Celtics' Wilcox fined $25K for obscene gesture toward fans
Chris Wilcox has been fined for making an obscene gesture towards fans. (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
ByBen Golliver
The NBA announced Sunday that Celtics forward Chris Wilcox has been fined $25,000 for "making an obscene gesture directed toward fans" during a Friday night loss to the Sixers at the Wells Fargo Center.
The incident, which occurred during a fourth quarter timeout with the score tied at 74, was not visible on the nationally televised broadcast of the game. Somewhat unusually, Wilcox was not even in the game when the incident took place with the Boston Globe reporting that Wilcox flipped off the camera while being shown on the jumbotron's "kiss cam" alongside teammate Jared Sullinger.
As Sixers guard Evan Turner stepped to the line for two free throws at the 8:47 mark, members of the Celtics bench, including Wilcox, could be seen exchanging words with fans seated behind the team's bench, one of whom could be seen cupping his hand and shouting in Wilcox's general direction. Before Turner attempted his second foul shot, Celtics assistant coach Tyronn Lue approached Wilcox and whispered something in his air before returning to his seat.
The Sixers defeated the Celtics in overtime 95-94. Wilcox finished with four points, two rebounds and one assist in 15 minutes.
Wilcox, 30, is in his second season with the Celtics. The 11-year veteran's career has also included stops with the Clippers, SuperSonics, Thunder, Knicks and Pistons. He is averaging 4.5 points and 2.3 rebounds in 13.1 minutes off of Boston's bench this season.