The NBA fined Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert $75,000 on Sunday for using the phrase "no homo" and calling the media "mother[expletive]" during his postgame press conference following Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday.
Hibbert, through the Pacers, issued a statement apologizing for his "insensitive remarks" early Sunday. Despite the apology, NBA Commissioner David Stern said in announcing the fine that a hefty financial penalty "is necessary to reinforce that such offensive comments will not be tolerated by the NBA."
After an impressive 24-point, 11-rebound, paint-controlling performance against the reeling Miami Heat to help push the conference finals to a winner-take-all Game 7, Hibbert spoke with reporters about his role in the Pacers' 91-77 Game 6 win. During his postgame podium trip alongside teammate Paul George, Hibbert used the phrase "no homo" as an ill-considered joke following a question about defending LeBron James. The Georgetown product also casually referred to the media as "motherf—–s" in response to a question about his surprisingly low finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
