NBA Issues $25,000 Fines to Thunder and Pelicans Players Following Heated On-Court Confrontation
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has taken disciplinary action against two players involved in a physical on-court confrontation earlier this week. On Thursday, the league announced that Jeremiah Fears of the New Orleans Pelicans and Luguentz Dort of the Oklahoma City Thunder have each been fined $25,000 for their roles in the altercation.
Details of the Incident at Paycom Center
The incident occurred during the closing moments of the Thunder's 104-95 victory over the Pelicans on Tuesday, January 27, at Paycom Center. According to the NBA's official statement released by James Jones, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, the confrontation began when Dort wrapped up Fears after Fears secured a rebound. After time expired, Dort shoved Fears in the chest, leading both players to aggressively grab each other's jerseys.
Teammates quickly intervened to separate the two players, preventing the situation from escalating further. Both squads eventually parted ways and headed to their respective locker rooms. The altercation was part of several physical exchanges between the teams during the game's final minutes.
Player Reactions and Context
Following the game, Thunder player Jaylin Williams, who was involved in a separate scuffle with Pelicans wing Saddiq Bey, downplayed the incident. In a video shared by Andrew Schlecht of The Athletic, Williams stated:
"I saw two teams that are competing against each other... You play a game and guys are bumping, you're fouling, you're doing things like that. ... It's two teams that wanna compete at the highest level. Of course, tempers are gonna get high. That's all it is, just two teams that wanna play. Play hard and it gets to that ... and outside of it, it's nothing more than what it was on the court."
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault pointed to officiating as a contributing factor, suggesting that improper handling of previous incidents may have exacerbated tensions. Meanwhile, reports surfaced that Fears allegedly referred to Dort as "soft" on Instagram, though the Thunder organization later minimized the significance of the social media exchange.
Season Performance of the Involved Players
Both players have been having notable seasons despite the controversy:
- Luguentz Dort, 26, is in his seventh season with the Thunder. He has averaged 8.8 points and 3.9 rebounds in 38 games (all starts) this season. In the game against the Pelicans, he finished with 12 points and eight rebounds.
- Jeremiah Fears, a rookie for the Pelicans, has been one of the standout first-year players. He averages 13.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, three assists, and 1.2 steals while shooting 31.8% from three-point range. Fears was selected as one of ten rookies for the Rising Stars Game and ranks fifth in rookie scoring. He is one of only four rookies with at least nine 20-point games this season.
Fears, the seventh overall pick in the recent draft, recently became the fourth-youngest player in NBA history to record three consecutive 20-point performances, following Cooper Flagg, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James (at 19 years, 51 days). This achievement marks the third-longest such streak by a rookie in Pelicans franchise history.
The NBA's decision to fine both players equally underscores the league's commitment to maintaining sportsmanship and preventing on-court altercations from escalating. As the season progresses, both Dort and Fears will continue to be key contributors to their respective teams, with their competitive spirits now tempered by this financial penalty.
