Video: Nets' Jorge Gutierrez fined for flagrant foul on Bobcats' Cody Zeller
The NBA has fined Nets guard Jorge Gutierrez $15,000 for "making excessive contact above the shoulders" while delivering a flagrant foul to Bobcats center Cody Zeller during Charlotte's 116-111 home victory over Brooklyn on Wednesday.
With a little more than six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and Charlotte leading 94-90, Kemba Walker pulled up for a jumper in the paint. Zeller came up with the offensive rebound and attempted to go up with a second-chance opportunity, only to have a leaping Gutierrez come down hard on his upper body with both arms. Zeller was knocked directly to the floor, requiring players from both teams and the officials to intervene.
Gutierrez was assessed a flagrant foul 2, a designation that applies to contact that is deemed both "unnecessary and excessive" and carries an automatic ejection. He departed with six points (on 3-for-3 shooting), two rebounds and two assists in 19 minutes.
Of note, the Mexican guard was playing on a 10-day contract, making the $15,000 fine a very significant penalty. NetsDaily.com reported that Gutierrez earned $28,000 for each of two 10-day contracts, although the Nets did announce Friday that he has been signed for the rest of the season. That move will reportedly help Gutierrez pull in a total of $123,000 from Brooklyn this season.
Gutierrez, 25, made his NBA debut earlier this month. The 2012 Pac-12 Player of the Year has played professionally in Mexico and in the D-League since going undrafted in 2012.
