Two-time MVP Stephen Curry avoided a suspension for tossing his mouthpiece in the direction of an official during Saturday’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. But the Golden State Warriors’ star was fined $50,000 by the NBA.
While relieved he was able to play Monday in what would ultimately become a 30-point win over the Dallas Mavericks, Curry himself is surprised by the amount of said fine.
“It’s an expensive mouthpiece toss. At the end of the day, it’s not about the money, it’s about me not doing stupid stuff and losing my cool like that,” Curry said, via ESPN. “It’s obviously a tough blow, but it’s more so about me recognizing how to handle myself on the court.”
A total of $50,000 won’t break someone playing under a contract that will pay him north of $200 million. Even then, it is a lofty fine. Though, there’s some around the NBA who believed Curry should have been suspended.
That likely would have had a larger impact for a Warriors squad that lost two of its first three games prior to Monday’s blowout 133-103 win over Dallas.
Despite Golden State’s sluggish 2-2 start to the season, Curry himself is averaging 29.0 points in four games. He just needs to keep his emotions in check moving forward. Another incident like this, and he’ll definitely be suspended.