NBA star fined after social media catches him threatening fan
This much we know: Boston Celtics star Isaiah Thomas was caught threatening someone on social media; a few days later, he was fined $25,000 by the NBA for "directing inappropriate language toward a fan."
It's just not quite clear how related these two facts are -- so bear with us as we dive in.
Five days ago, someone posted an Instagram video in which in definitely looks like Thomas tells a Washington Wizards fan from the bench area mid-game that "I will fuck you up and you know that." He can then be heard telling the fan to "come right here and say it."
That video hit the blogosphere Monday and Tuesday, even though it actually originated from last week.
Now, on Wednesday, the NBA announced Thomas' $25,000 fine. The league press release said the incident in question occurred during Game 4 of a playoffs series between the Celtics and Wizards in Washington on Sunday.
But here's where it gets weird: The video above was purportedly taken during Game 3 of that series, which was also played in Washington, but on Thursday.
So that was either just a typo by the league PR staff, or Thomas was in fact fined for an incident separate from the one in the Instagram video. We've asked the league for clarification but so far not heard back.
This much, meanwhile, seems certain: Thomas got into it with a Washington fan at least once, and his pockets are $25,000 lighter for it.
Game 5 of the series is Wednesday night in Boston.
Sam Laird is Mashable's Senior Sports Reporter. He covers the wide, weird world of sports from all angles -- as well as occasional other topics -- from Mashable's San Francisco bureau. Before joining Mashable in November 2011, his freelance work appeared in publications including the New York Times, New York Times Magazine, Slam, and East Bay Express. Sam is a graduate of UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz, and basketball and burritos take up most of his spare time. Follow him on Twitter @samcmlaird.
