By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-08 00:40:02 | Updated at 2024-12-23 19:29:29
2 weeks ago
San Antonio Spurs center Zach Collins is $35,000 poorer after flipping off officials during Friday's loss to the Kings in Sacramento.
The Spurs were already in a bind without injured center Victor Wembanyama before his backup, Collins, began berating officials in the second quarter.
Collins was quickly subbed out of the game, but that didn't stop him from directing his vitriol at referee Michael Smith, who responded by ejecting the 27-year-old. It was then that Collins was seen making the obscene hand gesture at Smith as Spurs assistants tried to steer him towards the locker room.
The former Gonzaga star was upset about being whistled for a foul on Domantas Sabonis.
The moment galvanized the Kings and Sacramento closed the first half on a 50-27 run, turning a 13-point deficit into a 69-59 lead at halftime.
Collins is in the first season of a two-year, $35 million contract and already has $54 million in career earnings, so his Christmas shopping shouldn't be too impacted by the $35,000 fine.
Zach Collins is $35,000 poorer after flipping off officials during Friday's loss to the Kings
Collins is ejected during game against the Sacramento Kings in the first half at Frost Bank Center
DeMar DeRozan scored 23 points, Sabonis had 22 points and 16 rebounds as the Kings rolled, 140-113, on Friday night, handing the Spurs their second straight loss without Wembanyama. De'Aaron Fox and Malik Monk added 22 points each for Sacramento, which had a season-high point total.
San Antonio's Julian Champagnie had six 3-pointers in scoring 30 points, both career-highs. Spurs rookie Stephon Castle had 15 points, and Chris Paul had 11 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds.
Wembanyama participated in a pregame workout but missed his second straight game with a sore lower back. Spurs guard Devin Vassell sat out for injury management of a bruised knee on the second night of a back-to-back, which both teams were playing.
San Antonio allowed 100 points through three quarters for the second straight game.
The Spurs have lost three straight and four of five without head coach Gregg Popovich, who is recovering from a mild stroke.
Popovich had the stroke on November 2 at the arena where the Spurs play, the team said Wednesday, and has already started a rehabilitation program with belief that he will make a full recovery. The team released no other details, including what aftereffects of the stroke - if any - that he is dealing with.
'It's a difficult time for everyone,' Spurs general manager Brian Wright said. 'Coach Pop has been the leader of this organization for the last three decades. We all have come across or know people that just have a different aura, a difference presence about them. Clearly, he's one of those people. When we walk into the building each and every day, we feel that leadership, we feel that presence and so not having him there's clearly a void. And we miss him.'
The 75-year-old Popovich is the NBA's all-time win leader who has led the Spurs to five championships, plus guided USA Basketball to a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. He is in his 29th season as coach of the Spurs.
'He's doing well. He's doing well. ... He's tough, he's a fighter and he's going to work,' Wright said. 'We're all here for him, but he's doing OK.'
Assistant coach Mitch Johnson has been the acting head coach in Popovich's absence.
