Indiana Pacers forward Jalen Smith has been fined $20,000 for directing profane language toward a game official, the NBA announced Wednesday.
The incident occurred at 7:04 of the third quarter in the Pacers’ 119-103 loss to Magic on Monday in Orlando, Fla.
Smith was whistled for an illegal pick on Orlando’s Jalen Suggs and waved his arms at an official in disagreement, with the latter move — construed as showing up an official — earning him a technical foul. Smith then received another technical foul and an ejection after yelling profanities in the officials’ direction.
“At the end of the day, you learn from your mistakes,” Smith said, per the Indianapolis Star. “I apologized to my teammates for that. I told them that that’s not me. My parents raised me better than that. My mom’s already texting me, getting in my butt right now.”
Smith, 21, recorded 14 points and eight rebounds in 25 minutes before leaving the game against the Magic.
The second-year player has averaged 12.9 points and 7.0 rebounds in seven games (three starts) since being acquired from the Phoenix Suns last month.
–Field Level Media
