NBA fines Nuggets guard Nate Robinson $10,000

Oct 15, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Denver Nuggets point guard Nate Robinson (10) reacts to being ejected from the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

5-foot-9 “spark plug” combo guard Nate Robinson is well-known in NBA circles for his shoot-first mentality and seemingly endless supply of energy, but the combo guard has caught the eye of the NBA for a not-so-positive reason.

NBA fines Nate Robinson 10K for hitting OKC's Steven Adams from behind and then hitting him in the chest last Tuesday.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) October 21, 2013

Upon seeing the acts in question where Robinson pushed and struck Thunder center Steven Adams, it’s easy to see why he was suspended. Any sort of repeated physical response is going to generate an automatic suspension in today’s NBA, but when the act comes in the midst of a meaningless preseason game, it becomes a bit more inexplicable.

However, Robinson is famously hot-headed and brash, and frankly, the visual of the 5-foot-9 Robinson attacking the 7-foot-tall Adams is one that would cause anyone to do a double-take. First-hand accounts referenced Robinson “taking a swing” at Adams in a fit of rage, and he was quickly ejected from Tuesday’s preseason action.

In the grand scheme, $10,000 for a player like Robinson (who is reportedly making just north of $2 million this season) is a drop in the bucket. Still, the way in which his frustration rose to the surface is a bit troubling for Denver fans (who are relying heavily on the scoring machine this season), and Steven Adams was none too happy with the results.

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