Fansided

Chicago Bulls’ Marco Belinelli fined $15,000 for ‘obscure gesture’

By Joshua Santos

May 4, 2013; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Chicago Bulls shooting guard Marco Belinelli (8) shoots a free throw against the Brooklyn Nets in game seven of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports
May 4, 2013; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Chicago Bulls shooting guard Marco Belinelli (8) shoots a free throw against the Brooklyn Nets in game seven of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
May 4, 2013; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Chicago Bulls shooting guard Marco Belinelli (8) shoots a free throw against the Brooklyn Nets in-game seven of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports
May 4, 2013; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Chicago Bulls shooting guard Marco Belinelli (8) shoots a free throw against the Brooklyn Nets in-game seven of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports /

As the Chicago Bulls take on the Miami Heat tonight at American Airlines Center, Marco Belinelli will play the game only to have his wallet hit hard, losing $15,000 as the league decided to fine Belinelli for a ‘obscure gesture.’

According to Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today, Belinelli hit a three-pointer in the third quarter of game seven with less than five minutes remaining in the quarter. His three pointer gave Chicago a 91-81 lead over the Brooklyn Nets. After his shot went down, Belinelli went back to the bench doing the infamous Sam Cassell dance made popular by the former NBA player, Sam Cassell.

Marco Belinelli doing the Sam Cassell dance during the fourth quarter of the Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Nets game seven.
Marco Belinelli doing the Sam Cassell dance during the fourth quarter of the Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Nets game seven. /

Belinelli had 22 points, seven assists, and five rebounds in-game six and 24 points and six rebounds in-game seven. This isn’t the first time a player has been fined for such gesture. Eddie House formally of the Miami Heat and Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks all did the same celebration during their games in Jan. 2011. While the gesture is frowned upon, the NBA needs to lighten up and let their players celebrate. NBA players are human and like to celebrate just like every one of us. They’re not inhuman or robots. Let the players celebrate.

Home/Atlanta Hawks