The Los Angeles Lakers and Phil Jackson were fined $50,000 apiece by the NBA on Thursday after the coach said the league was conducting a “witch hunt” against Kobe Bryant.
Bryant recently received two one-game suspensions this season for striking players in the face after taking a shot. The league retroactively assessed Bryant with a flagrant foul for an elbow to Philadelphia’s Kyle Korver last week, a play that didn’t even draw a foul.
NBA executive vice president Stu Jackson said the fine was for Jackson’s “public criticisms of the NBA.”
Bryant, speaking in Denver before the fine was levied, said he appreciated Jackson standing up for him.
“He was defending his player,” Bryant said at a shootaround for a game against the Nuggets.
Jackson clearly was upset with the NBA’s actions.
Bryant said the suspensions wouldn’t change his shooting style. He’s second in the league in scoring behind Denver’s Carmelo Anthony.
Jackson was fined $25,000 in November for critical remarks. He said Wednesday that he wasn’t afraid of his comments leading to another fine.
