Spurs receive substantial $250,000 fine

By Quixem Ramirez
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Nov 29, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich (left) talks with point guard Nando de Colo (right) during a game against he Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

NBA commissioner David Stern promised “substantial sanctions” for Spurs coach Gregg Popovich’s decision to rest Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Danny Green and Tony Parker before a nationally televised audience.

True to his word, Stern levied a $250,000 fine, the fifth largest fine in NBA history. The controversial ruling was made because the league felt the Spurs did a “disservice to the league and our fans.”

Miami nearly etched out a five-point victory against a nine-man roster bereft of forwards Kawhi Leonard and Stephen Jackson as well.

“The result here is dictated by the totality of the facts in this case,” Stern said in the release. “The Spurs decided to make four of their top players unavailable for an early-season game that was the team’s only regular-season visit to Miami. The team also did this without informing the Heat, the media, or the league office in a timely way. Under these circumstances, I have concluded that the Spurs did a disservice to the league and our fans.”

As @FakeCoachPop noted on Twitter, the NBA made a decision that shows why they have more in common with wrestling than you would think.

Television ratings.

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