Kristaps Porzingis fined for wandering into a Los Angeles strip club

The Dallas Mavericks surely need more out of Kristaps Porzingis if they’re to finish their upset of the Los Angeles Clippers. This isn’t what they had in mind.

Porzingis is fully-vaccinated, but he still broke NBA protocol by attending a club on Sunday. He was only there ‘briefly’, per ESPN, but it was enough to warrant a steady hand from Adam Silver and the Association.

“In consultation with medical experts, and based on all facts and circumstances, it was determined that his attendance did not create risks related to the spread of COVID-19 and therefore no quarantine is necessary,” the NBA’s statement read.

Along with Luka Doncic, Porzingis is viewed as a significant offensive threat for the Dallas Mavericks in their series against the Clippers. He scored just 14 points in Game 1, below his league average during the regular season.

Mavericks: Kristaps Porzingis given more than a slap on the wrist for attending strip club

The NBA fined Porzingis $50,000, and while that may not be much to the average professional basketball player, it’s enough for the public to notice.

It is, however, far more than LeBron James got fined for hosting a photoshoot with Drake and Michael B. Jordan for his tequila brand just before the Lakers play-in game against the Golden State Warriors.

Porzingis is a big enough name to make an example, and even if the NBA won’t admit it, they can’t afford to have players fully disregard the rules at hand. The 25-year-old Mavs superstar learned that the hard way.