Clippers’ Austin Rivers is fined $25,000 by NBA for inappropriate comments to fan
Reporting from Dallas — Austin Rivers was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Saturday for directing inappropriate comments toward a fan during the Clippers’ loss to the Utah Jazz on Thursday night at Staples Center.
Rivers told The Times on Friday that he regretted his actions, which he described as a response to Clippers teammate DeAndre Jordan being verbally abused.
Rivers said he apologized to the fan after the game.
“I didn’t handle it the best way,” Rivers said before the Clippers played the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. “But, at the end, I was sticking up for my teammate. If it happens, would I do it all over again? No, probably not because I wouldn’t want to get fined. And you’re not supposed to respond to fans anyway.”
Rivers was captured on video walking toward some fans sitting courtside, his hands and head gesturing.
He then can be heard using an expletive while telling the fan to shut up.
The video shows Jordan walking over and pulling Rivers away.
“I liked that he took exception to what someone said about one of his teammates,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. “You always like when a player is defending one of his own teammates. That’s nice. What I don’t like, with any of my players, is never, ever engage.”
Twitter: @BA_Turner
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
