Kobe Bryant Fined $100,000 by NBA for Homophobic Slur at Referee

by NESN Staff on Wed, Apr 13, 2011 at 7:18PM

When referee Bennie Adams issued Kobe Bryant a technical foul in Tuesday night's game against the Spurs, TNT cameras caught Bryant yelling a derogatory homophobic slur at Adams.

Amid much criticism, the NBA reviewed what happened and has fined Bryant $100,000 for the anti-gay slur, according to NBA.com.

"Kobe Bryant's comment during last night's game was offensive and inexcusable," NBA commissioner David Stern said in a release. "While I'm fully aware that basketball is an emotional game, such a distasteful term should never be tolerated. Accordingly, I have fined Kobe $100,000.

"Kobe and everyone associated with the NBA know that insensitive or derogatory comments are not acceptable and have no place in our game or society."

Bryant released a statement earlier on Wednesday saying that what he said does not reflect his feelings toward the gay and lesbian communities, and he did not mean to offend anyone.

The Lakers had no comment.