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LeBron James fined $15K for Sam Cassell 'obscene gesture' in win over Pacers

Not even LeBron James is immune from a Sam Cassell celebration fine.

The NBA fined James $15,000 for making an “obscene gesture” during the Los Angeles Lakers’ overtime win against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night, the league announced Friday.

James drilled a big 3-pointer in overtime to lead the Lakers to the 124-116 win, and hit Sam Cassell’s iconic “Big Balls” celebration as he made his way down the court.

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James was fined for hitting the Sam Cassell celebration against the Pacers on Wednesday night. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images) (Andy Lyons via Getty Images)

The NBA has been fining players for that celebration — which has become incredibly popular in the NBA and across sports — very strictly for nearly a decade. Toronto Raptors star Fred VanVleet was fined for hitting the move in front of Cassell earlier this month.

James dropped a season-high 39 points in Indianapolis, which marked his first game back from his one-game suspension after an altercation with Pistons center Isaiah Stewart. James also had a pair of Pacers fans ejected from the contest in overtime, as they allegedly were using “obscene” language and gestures at their courtside seats.

James addressed his one-game suspension after the win, and thought he shouldn’t have been suspended.

“I mean, it’s some bulls**t,” he said. “But whatever.”

The NBA officially warned James “for using profane language during media availability in response to league imposed discipline” on Friday when it fined him, too.