Jimmy Butler Getting Fined $15K For Obscene Celebration Gesture During Heat vs Hawks Leaves Fans Scratching Their Heads

Jimmy Butler has turned up for the Miami Heat when it counts. In the playoff series against Atlanta Hawks, he already averages around 30 points per game. Butler did not play Heat’s series winning game against the Hawks, though. He sat out because of a right knee inflammation. His team won that match 97-94. It was a closely fought game between the first seeded and the eighth seeded team. Atlanta was always on the edge of bringing parity, but they couldn’t in the end. Heat went through to the Conference Semifinals.

Butler was animated throughout the match. In fact, one of his reactions went viral through social media. He reacted to a Max Struss three pointer in the most Jimmy Butler-ish way possible. NBA noticed that reaction and proceeded to fine him. The NBA announced Thursday it is fining Jimmy Butler $15,000 for making “an obscene gesture” on the Heat’s bench during Game 5 of their first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks. The Heat have also been fined $15,000 for posting a gif of the “gesture” to social media.

Fans Reaction to the fine

Fans have mixed to negative reaction to this fine by the NBA. Some are saying Butler should not have made that “obscene gesture”. Others? are saying that the association has become “soft”. Some are even saying if this is fined, why not Embiid’s DX inspired crotch crop? These are some of the reactions broken down:

Jimmy Butler against the Hawks

Jimmy Butler sat out of the fifth game along with Kyle Lowry. He appeared to have fun on the bench, though. Behind 23 points from a resurgent Victor Oladipo, the Heat came to life at the end of the second quarter and held on for a 97-94 win. They will now face the Philadelphia 76ers in the Conference Semifinals.

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While Butler missed 25 games this season, this is the first time that he has been on Miami’s injury report with a knee injury. He missed time because of ankle, toe and tailbone injuries and a sinus issue.

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Butler has been very vital for the Heat. Before this game, he was coming off a 36-point, 10-rebound, four-assist, four-steal performance in a 110-86 victory on Sunday. It wasn’t even his best performance in this series. In Game 2, Butler scored 45 points on 15-for-25 shooting, with five rebounds, five assists and two steals. In four games, he has averaged 30.5 points on 63.6 percent true shooting, 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.8 steals.