NBA Coach Admits To Doing 'Something I Probably Shouldn't Have Done' -- Others Will Likely Call It Cheating

As expected, the NBA fined Brooklyn Nets head coach Jason Kidd $50,000 for intentionally spilling his drink on the basketball court during the final seconds of a game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.

Image source: YouTube raw video

With just 8.3 seconds left in the game, Kidd appears to have directed a Nets player to bump into him so he could "accidentally" spill his soda; but it was a ploy to get another timeout, which the Nets were out of. As the arena crews rushed to clean the sticky liquid from the hardwood floor, the Nets planned their final (though unsuccessful) play.

Calling this "Cup-Gate," ESPN initially added that "Kidd said the drink slipped out of his hand, Taylor said he didn't tell him to hit him."

After the fine was announced, the Associated Press reported, Kidd admitted "the league fined me for something that I probably shouldn't have done." He continued, "It's about trying to win and those guys in that locker room, and I tried to put those guys in a position to get a basket, a good look and we did."

Since Kidd has admitted that he did pull the stunt on purpose, do you think his fine is appropriate? Or should the NBA increase it as a deterrent to others who might try something similar?

Take our Blaze Poll on the subject:

This is the second time this week that a coach of a professional sports team appears to have resorted to less-than-honorable behavior in order to help his team. During the Thanksgiving Day game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin wandered on to the field just as an opposing player was running down the sideline.

(Source: Deadspin gif screen shot)

The play did not change the outcome of the game -- the Ravens won 22-20 -- but may have altered the final score. The Sporting News is reporting that Mike Tomlin will likely be getting a call from the league office and could face disciplinary action.

Follow Mike Opelka on Twitter - @stuntbrain

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