San Antonio Spurs center Zach Collins is $35,000 poorer after punching out officials during Friday’s loss to the Kings in Sacramento.
Spurs were already in trouble without injured center Victor Wembanyama before his backup, Collins, started berating the officials in the second quarter.
Collins was quickly taken out of the match, but that didn’t stop him directing his vitriol at referee Michael Smith, who responded by sending off the 27-year-old. It was then that Collins was seen making the obscene hand gesture to Smith as Spurs assistants tried to send him to the dressing room.
The former Gonzaga star was upset because he was whistled for a foul on Domantas Sabonis.
The moment galvanized the Kings and Sacramento closed the first half on a 50-27 run, turning a 13-point deficit into a 69-59 halftime lead.
Collins is in the first season of a two-year, $35 million contract and already has $54 million in career earnings, so his holiday shopping shouldn’t be too affected by the $35,000 fine.
Zach Collins is $35,000 poorer after punching out officials during Friday’s loss to the Kings
Collins is ejected during the game against the Sacramento Kings in the first half at Frost Bank Center
DeMar DeRozan scored 23 points and Sabonis had 22 points and 16 rebounds as the Kings rolled 140-113 on Friday night, handing the Spurs their second straight loss without Wembanyama. De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk each added 22 points for Sacramento, which had a season-high point total.
San Antonio’s Julian Champagnie had six 3-pointers and scored 30 points, both career highs. Spurs rookie Stephon Castle had 15 points and Chris Paul had 11 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds.
Wembanyama took part in pregame training but missed his second straight match with a sore lower back. Spurs guard Devin Vassell sat out injury treatment for a bruised knee on the second night of a back-to-back, which both teams played.
San Antonio allowed 100 points through three quarters for the second straight game.
The Spurs have lost three straight games and four of five without head coach Gregg Popovich, who is recovering from a mild stroke.
Popovich suffered the stroke on Nov. 2 at the arena where the Spurs play, the team said Wednesday, and has already begun a rehabilitation program in the belief he will make a full recovery. The team has not released any other details, including any after-effects of the stroke he is dealing with.
“It’s a tough time for everyone,” Spurs general manager Brian Wright said. ‘Coach Pop has been the leader of this organization for thirty years. We have all encountered or known people who simply have a different look, a different presence. Clearly he is one of those people. When we walk into the building every day, we feel that leadership, we feel that presence and so when we don’t have him there, there’s obviously a void. And we miss him.’
The 75-year-old Popovich is the NBA’s all-time leader and has led the Spurs to five championships, plus USA Basketball to a gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. He is in his 29th season as Spurs coach . .
‘He’s doing well. He’s doing well. … He’s tough, he’s a fighter and he goes to work,” Wright said. “We’re all here for him, but he’s doing well.”
Assistant coach Mitch Johnson was the acting head coach in Popovich’s absence.