Rockets owner Leslie Alexander fined $100K for yelling at referee

ESPN logo
Thursday, April 27, 2017
Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander fined by the NBA
Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander fined by the NBA.

HOUSTON, Texas -- The NBA has fined Rockets owner Leslie Alexander $100,000, one day after he left his courtside seat during live game action to yell at referee Bill Kennedy in the final seconds of the first quarter of Houston's 105-99 series-clinching Game 5 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.

As Kennedy stood watching a play, Alexander got up from his seat next to the national television table. Rockets legend Hakeem Olajuwon tried to grab the owner's arm, but he kept walking. Alexander stood behind Kennedy for less than five seconds before walking away. Kennedy did turn his head as Alexander reversed course.

It appeared Alexander was complaining about a call that wasn't made before he sat back down.

Alexander, who is normally mild-mannered during games, declined to discuss much about the scene, only saying at halftime he "can't talk about it" and that he was "upset, really upset."

After the incident, NBA spokesman Mike Bass issued a statement saying that "an investigation is underway."

Meanwhile, Houston Texans star J.J. Watt has offered to help with the fine.

"Les, I know you got it, but if you need us to chip in, we got you fam," Watt tweeted.

Report a typo to the ABC13 staff