It's unclear what the fan said to get the reaction out of Anthony Davis NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Pelicans All-Star forward Anthony Davis has been fined $15,000 by the NBA for directing an obscene gesture toward a fan. NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Kiki VanDeWeghe, who announced the fine on Thursday, says Davis made the offending gesture as he left the court following the Pelicans' 115-109 loss to the Charlotte Hornets in New Orleans on Wednesday night. Amateur video posted on the internet shows Davis briefly scowling and extending the third finger on his left hand as he walks toward the tunnel leading off the court at the Smoothie King Center. Davis then immediately engages other fans with friendlier gestures including high-fives, as he often has done, before disappearing down the corridor leading toward the Pelicans' locker room. Davis' relationship with fans at the Smoothie King Center hasn't always been good since he requested a trade this season. He has been booed at games and has been given limited minutes, usually sitting out games altogether. Davis, a six-time All-Star drafted by New Orleans in 2012, has drawn heavy criticism from some fans since publicly demanding a trade in late January. He has missed four straight games while being listed on New Orleans' injury report with back spasms. The Pelicans visit Phoenix on Friday night. ___<doc-sep>NBA: Anthony Davis fined $15,000 for making 'obscene gesture' towards fan Share Shares Copy Link Copy Hide Transcript Show Transcript WEBVTT >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE WDSU HOT STREET. I'M TRAVIS MACKEL. TONIGHT WE HAVE A GREAT PANEL AS WE'RE FOCUSING THIS ENTIRE SEGMENT ON THE SITUATION IF YOU WE HAVE DAVID GRUB WHO COVERS THE PELICANS FOR CASSEL AND SHAMIT DUA. AND SPORTS ANCHOR WHO IS NEVER NOT OPINIONATED ABOUT THIS SITUATION. BEFORE WE START. LET ME SET SOME THINGS UP DEALING WITH ANTHONY DAVIS. 13 DAYS AGO, ANTHONY DAVIS AND HIS AGENT RISM PAUL FROM CLUTCH SPORTS DEMANDED A TRADE AWAY FROM THE PELICANS. THEY WANTED A.D. TO JOIN THE LAKERSLE THE -- LAKERS. AND THE PELS DIDN'T MOVE HIM. SO THE STAR WHO DOESN'T WANT TO BE HERE IS STUCK IN NEW ORLEANS UNTIL THE OFF-SEASON. WILL HE KEEP PLAYING FOR THE PELICANS? THE NBA THREATENING TO FINE THE PELS $100,000 EVERY GAME THAT DAVIS DOESN'T PLAY IF HEALTHY. WE'LL START WITH YOU, FLETCHER. DOES HE CONTINUE TO PLAY OR DOES HE HAVE TO IS IT OUT? >> -- SIT OUT? FLETCHER: I LIKE WHAT THEY DID. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE FORCED INTO A BAD DEAL WITH THE LAKERS. WAIT UNTIL THIS SUMMER. BUT THEN THE NBA KIND OF RAINED DOWN ON NEW ORLEANS A LITTLE BIT AND PUT THEM UP AGAINST THE WALL SO TO SAY, PUT THEM IN A CORNER, THAT THEY HAVE TO PLAY ANTHONY DAVIS BECAUSE HE IS ONE OF THE STARS ON THE LEAGUE. HE DOES SELL TICKETS ON THE. I THINK IT'S THE CRAZIEST SITUATION. I'VE COVERED FOUR HEAD COACHES BEING FIRED. THIS IS THE WEIRDEST THING THAT I THINK I CAN REMEMBER. TROIFERS DOES HE CONTINUE TO PLAY OR DOES HE COME TO A POINT WHERE HE SAYS YOU KNOW WHAT, I HAVE TO SHUT IT DOWN BECAUSE I COULD RISK INJURY AND I WANT TO LEAVE NEW ORLEANS? >> I THINK IT'S IN THE PARTY'S BEST INTEREST TO SHUT IT DOWN. WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS. BUT HE'LL REALIZE THIS IS VERY AWKWARD. THE TEAM DOESN'T WANT HIM TO BE HE CAN RISK GETTING HURT. SO I THINK IT'S IN BOTH PARTY'S INTEREST TO SHUT HIM DOWN AND SEND HIM TO L.A. TO CHILL OUT. >> YOU'VE TALKED TO ANTHONY DAVIS. HE KEPT SAYING, I JUST WANT TO PLAY BASKETBALL. BUT YOU DON'T JUST WANT TO PLAY THE BASKETBALL BECAUSE YOU ENTERED THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THIS BY DEMANDING A TRADE. HOW AWKWARD AND UNUSUAL IS THIS FOR ANTHONY DAVIS AND HIS TEAM AT CLUTCH SPORTS? >> THEY EXPECTED TO END UP IN L.A. BY NOW. YET, HE'S STUCK PLAYING IN NEW ORLEANS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SEASON. HE'S GOT TEAMMATES THAT LOVE HIM AND A COACHING STAFF THAT LOV HE EVEN TALKS TO GAYLE BENSON. IT'S NOT A COMPLETELY AWKWARD SITUATION. BUT THE TEAM IS STUCK PLAYING THERE'S THAT INJURY RISK AND NOW WE'RE DEALING WITH WHAT WE'VE SEEN FOR THE FIRST TIME IS THESE NEW LEAGU RULES AFTER A LOT OF STARS SAT DOWN IN KEY MATCHUPS. NEW ERA. THEY HAVE TO PLAY ANTHONY DAVIS. >> DOES THERE COME A TIME WHEN HE SAYS, YOU KNOW WHAT, MAYBE IT'S BEST FOR ME TO GO TO L.A. AND NOT RISK INJURY? >> I THINK IT WON'T BE BEFORE THE PELICANS ARE OFFICIALLY ELIMINATED FROM THE PLAYOFFS. THIS POLICY THEY'RE GOING TO BE STRINGENT ABOUT THAT. AND THE IMPRESSION NOW IS THEY DON'T WANT AGENTS DETERMINING WHEN PLAYERS ARE GOING TO PLAY BECAUSE OF THE FANS. SO I THINK THE SITUATION IS GOING ON AT LEAST UNTIL THE PELICANS ARE OFFICIALLY ELIMINATED. >> MAGIC JOHNSON SAID THE PELICANS DIDN'T NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH. DO YOU BUY THAT? >> NOBODY NEGOTIATED IN GOOD FAITH HERE. AND THE PELICANS' RESPONSE TO WHEN THIS REQUEST CAME OUT, THAT MONDAY MORNING AND ANTHONY, YOU KNOW, AT HIS FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE SAYS THAT HE NEVER IT ONLY BECAME PUBLIC BECAUSE OF LEAKS. RISM PAUL WAS ASKED A QUESTION AND HE ANSWERED IT. WHEN YOU DO THAT 10 DAYS BEFORE THE TRADE DEADLINE AND, YOU KNOW, PARTNERS ARE EXTREMELY LIMITED, YOU'RE TRYING TO ORCHESTRATE THE DEAL. IT'S ONE THING, I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHATEVER POSITION THAT THEY HAVE IN A NEGOTIATION. BUT WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO LEIF AND YOU'RE ALSO TRYING TO BOX IN THE FRANCHISE YOU'RE TRYING TO LEAVE, YOU HAVE A PROBLEM. AND THE PELICANS HAS NO INCENTIVE TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE LAKERS. >> THE EXPECTATION FROM THE PELICANS' POINT OF VIEW TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE SUMMER. THERE WERE RUMORS THAT A.D. WANTED OUT. >> WAS THERE A GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT? >> I THINK SO. I THINK THEY WERE NEGOTIATING EVEN THOUGH THEY WEREN'T ON EYE TO EYE, THEY RARELY DID TALK. HE WAS AROUND THE FACILITY OFTEN SUDDEN JUMP TO ACTION. YOU KNOW, CALL TO ARMS. THEY FORCED THE PELICANS INTO A CORNER. >> IF YOU COULD TALK ABOUT THIS -- >> THE PEM CANS TRIED O HANDLE THIS AS BEST THEY COULD? IF THE DEAL WAS OVERWHELMING WAS THIS SMOKE AND MIRRORS BECAUSE HE WOULD STAY IN HERE THE WHOLE TIME? >> I THINK THEY WOULD HAVE CONSIDERED TAKE IT IF IT WAS OVERWHELMING. FROM THE MOMENT, THE PEM CANS POUT OUT A STATEMENT SAYING WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS ON OUR OWN TIME LINE. THE PELICANS ARE GOING TO TAKE A LONG, HARD LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE OFFER AND THE LAKERS UNFORTUNATELY DID NOT WOW THEM. THIS MATERIALIZING. >> I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THE BACK AND FORTH, THE LAKERS, THE PELICANS. THERE'S ALLEGATIONS ABOUT WITH MAGIC JOHNSON THAT THEY DIDN'T OPERATE IN GOOD FAITH. DID BOTH SIDES NOT NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH? >> THE PELICANS HAVE BEEN USING WORDS LIKE COLLUSION AND THEY WERE UPSET WITH LEBRON JAMES TALKING ABOUT HIM. EVERYBODY LOOKS AS THE LAKERS AS THE STAR TEAM, THE BULLY. PEOPLE SPEAK AND ARE FLUENT IN LANGUAGE CALLED HUT, HUT. BUT THIS THE NFL, THE SAINTS ARE NO BETTER THAN THE COWBOYS. EVERYBODY IS KIND OF ON EQUAL FOOTING SO TO SAY. BUT THE NBA DOESN'T OPERATE THAT WAY AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY THE LAKERS AND THE BULLS AND THE KNICKS WHEN THEY USED TO BE GOOD. SOME OF THE SMALLER TEAMS ARE BULLIED. STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES AND SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE NUT A DIFFICULT SPOT. THE LEAGUE. AND THEY CAN'T DISRESPECT THEM. JUST TO KIND OF FOLLOW UP ON SOMETHING I WANTED TO MENTION -- I KNOW WE HAVE A FEW MORE MINUTES THOUGH IS THAT I DO THINK THIS ENTIRE SITUATION AS BAD AS IT IS AND AWKWARD AS IT IS, AND IF HE GETS INJURED IT DERAILS THIS FRANCHISE AND IT CAUSES UNCERTAINTY FOR HIS FUTURE. BUT IT GIVES THE PELICANS ORGANIZATION AND GAYLE BENSON TO NAPA IT. THIS IS GIVING THEM A CHANCE TO CLEAN HOUSE. >> IT WILL BE A JUMP BALL SINCE FLETCHER TOOK THE QUESTION RIGHT OUT OF THE MY MOUTH. DOES ALVIN GENTRY SURVIVE THI IS IN THE CHANCE TO CLEAN SNOUSE CAN ANYBODY SURVIVE A SITUATION LIKE THIS? >> I THINK CLEARLY MICKEY LUMAS IS DECIDING THAT THIS SOMETHING HE DOES NOT WANT TO DO BEING PRESIDENT OF BASKETBALL OPERATIONS. EVERYTHING FOLLOWS FROM THERE. LET THAT PERSON MAKE THE EVALUATION OF DEL. AND IF THERE IS A NEW G.M. IN PLACE HIRE THE NEW COACH. BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE GOT HERE. DALE DIDN'T HIRE MONTY WILLIAMS. AND AS FLETCHER SAID THERE'S BEEN THIS TINKERING AROUND THE EDGES. YOU WANT TO DECIDE WHAT IS THE NEXT COURSE WHAT, IS THE BEST COURSE FOR THIS FRANCHISE MOVING FORWARD? >> JUST IN REFERENCE OF ALVIN GENTRY. ALVIN HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF SURVIVING IT SIMPLY BECAUSE HE PLAY AS SIMILAR STYLE IN THE NBA THAT IS ENVY YABBLE. SO IF THE NEW MANAGER OF BASKETBALL ORGANIZATIONS SEES THAT WE HAVE A TALENT AND WE WANT TO KEEP MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION, BUT DALE IS ON THE HOT SEAT. IT'S GOING TO BE HARD SEEING HIM SURVIVE THIS. HE'S BEEN THERE SEVEN, EIGHT, 10 YEARS NOW. HE TRADED AWAY CHRIS PAUL. ANTHONY DAVIS, TWO FAILED SUPERSTARS.<doc-sep>Anthony Davis was fined $15,000 by the NBA this week after a video that showed him "directing an obscene gesture toward a fan" began circulating online New Orleans Pelicans' Anthony Davis Fined $15K for Flipping Off Fan Following Game New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis has been fined $15,000 by the NBA after video showed the basketball star giving the middle finger to a fan. Following the team’s loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, Davis, 26, was seen flipping off a fan as he exited the Pelicans’ Smoothie King Arena. It is not immediately clear in the video what prompted the gesture. Get push notifications with news, features and more. According to CBS Sports, Davis — who has spent a lot of time on the bench after requesting to be traded from the team — did not play in the game. The following day, the NBA announced they had fined the player “for directing an obscene gesture toward a fan” as he was leaving the court. Although the video does not show what led to the interaction, NOLA.com reported that according to multiple sources, Davis had been provoked by a fan, with one source saying the player had been told “(expletive) you, AD!” Fan account Pelicans Wave later posted a screenshot from an alleged direct message conversation with Davis, where the NBA player reportedly wrote that “some fan disrespected me” and “said something I didn’t like.” NBA: JAN 14 Pelicans at Clippers Anthony Davis | Credit: Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images This is the second time this year that Davis has been fined by the NBA. In January, the player was fined $50,000 after his agent, Rich Paul, told ESPN that Davis would not be signing a contract extension with the Pelicans. Paul went on to tell the outlet that his client “wants to be traded to a team that allows him a chance to win consistently and compete for a championship.” In explanation of the fine, the NBA said Davis had violated a “collectively-bargained rule prohibiting players or their representatives from making public trade demands,” USA Today reported. According to ESPN, $50,000 is the most an NBA player can be fined without being allowed to file a grievance. The previous year — after Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who shares the same agent as Davis, made a comment about how he’d love to play with the Pelicans star — the NBA sent out a memo reminding teams not to violate the league’s “anti-tampering rule,” according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. RELATED VIDEO: Scooby The Chihuahua And His Owner Perform Balancing Acts As Halftime Entertainment Although there’s a long history of heckling when it comes to sports, basketball fans are increasingly being held accountable when their comments cross the line. Last month, the Utah Jazz issued two lifetime bans over separate incidents involving Oklahoma City Thunder player Russell Westbrook, according to the Washington Post. The outlet reported that one incident stemmed from a fan calling Westbrook “boy” during the 2018 playoffs, while another stemmed from a verbal altercation he got into with a fan during a March 11 game. Following the game, the point guard, 30, spoke to reporters, claiming that he was provoked to defend himself after a pair of hecklers told him to “get down on my knees like I used to” — a comment he felt was not only “completely disrespectful,” but also a “racial” attack on him and his family. Despite the action taken against the hecklers, Westbrook, who verbally threatened to “f— up” the pair during the altercation, was fined $25,000 by the NBA for his comments.<doc-sep>
New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis is the latest NBA player to exchange unpleasantries with a fan. (AP) [Update:] Anthony Davis has been fined $15,000 by the NBA, according to an announcement on Thursday. New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis has been fined $15,000 for directing an obscene gesture toward a fan, the league announced. — Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) April 4, 2019 ————— [Original story:] The NBA is investigating another player-fan incident after video captured New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis flashing his middle finger at the crowd following a home loss to the Charlotte Hornets, a league source told Yahoo Sports. Dressed in street clothes after being ruled out with a back injury for a fourth straight game, Davis flipped the bird at a Smoothie King spectator as he exited the court. Anthony Davis is ready for the season to end 😭 pic.twitter.com/zng9L6cUoS — NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) April 4, 2019 The fan who originally posted the video, Bradley Wehmeyer, offered his side of the story in a series of replies on Twitter: “Long story short the old dude in the stands behind me flipped AD off first because he was upset that he spent so much money on season tickets and all AD has been doing is sitting out, then AD responded.” A Pelicans fan account on Instagram posted an alleged direct message exchange with Davis in which the 26-year-old superstar appears to offer a similar viewpoint: The Times-Picayune cited multiple sources in reporting that the fan provoked Davis. “One source said Davis was told simply, ‘[Expletive] you, AD!” the newspaper said. Davis requested a trade from the Pelicans in late January. The team rejected offers for the All-NBA big man prior to the trade deadline, opting instead to continue shopping him this summer. He has played 15 of the team’s 29 games since his trade request, averaging just 22 minutes, as the team has spiraled down the lottery. Story continues Once beloved in New Orleans, Davis’ relationship with Pelicans fans has been complicated as a result. He was booed by the home crowd during pregame introductions and almost each time he touched the ball upon returning from injury in early February. Wednesday’s incident is the latest example of a strained (and strange) relationship between Davis and the only NBA city he has called home. It also marks the latest in a string of unfortunate player-fan incidents that have raised questions about problematic in-arena behavior and resulted in spectator banishments and athlete fines. This video does not appear to rise to the severity of recent allegations of racism, but Davis may still face a fine, even despite the fan’s instigation. Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook received a $25,000 fine last month “for directing profanity and threatening language toward a fan” who, the Utah Jazz determined, directed “excessive and derogatory verbal abuse” at him. – – – – – – – Ben Rohrbach is a staff writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at rohrbach_ben@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @brohrbach More from Yahoo Sports: