The National Basketball Association (NBA) has fined LeBron James $15,000 for an obscene gesture along with warning the Los Angeles Lakers superstar for use of profane language. James made the gesture during the 124-116 overtime win against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. 

James had missed the game against the New York Knicks on Tuesday, which the Lakers lost 100-106 at Madison Square Garden, through suspension for hitting Detroit centre Isaiah Stewart in the face last Sunday.  

The suspension was the first of his distinguished career. 

The suspension did not go down too well with the four-time NBA champion, who used profanity while discussing the decision in the post-game interview following the win against Indiana.

Also Read | NBA: Young leads Hawks past Grizzlies as Morant injures left knee

“I was excited about being in the lineup,” he said. “Me not playing last night on the second night of a back to back, I knew I could kind of give our guys a boost of energy with me not playing last night.”

Lakers coach Frank Vogel said James was “really wanted to play” against the Knicks. “I know he wanted to get this ‘W,’” Vogel said. “He really wanted to play in that Knicks game, he looks forward to that every year. So to bounce back tonight, to quarterback the defense and carry the offense the way he did, that’s just a performance for the ages.”

Also Read | NBA: Booker, Suns extend win streak to 15, beat Knicks 118-97

James led the scoring against the Pacers on Wednesday with 39 points and six assists. With All-Star center Anthony Davis out because of flu-like defense, James also was in charge of calling the defensive assignments. 

Meanwhile, the NBA also fined Portland’s Robert Covington $15,000 for throwing his facemask at a referee on Wednesday. He was given a technical foul and ejected from the game for his action with 49 seconds to go in the second quarter of the Trail Blazer’s 121-125 loss at Sacramento. 

(With inputs from the Associated Press)