Stephen Curry fined US$50,000 for throwing mouthguard at referee

GOLDEN State superstar Steph Curry has been slapped with a huge fine for his mouthguard throwing tantrum, but escaped a suspension.

Steph Curry has avoided suspension for throwing his mouthguard at the referee. Picture: AP

GOLDEN State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry will be forced to cough up $64,000 after the NBA handed down its verdict on his mouthguard-throwing tantrum.

A frustrated Curry was ejected with less than a minute to go in the Warriors’ failed tilt with Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, after throwing his mouthguard near referee Scott Wall after a no-foul call.

The NBA handed down the decision in time for Curry to take on the Dallas Mavericks — who the Warriors towelled by 30, 133-103.

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Steph Curry has avoided suspension for throwing his mouthguard at the referee. Picture: AP

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The dummy spit had the world talking, with even AFL greats getting in on the action.

“I was staggered with what happened there,” Melbourne great Garry Lyon said on SEN Breakfast.

“If, in the AFL, the best player in the competition threw his mouthguard with velocity and hit the central umpire, hit ‘Razor’ Ray Chamberlain in the melon, what would be the penalty?”

“Not on, what a bad look that is for the game.

“Steph Curry would probably be as influential a sporting figure in terms of basketball as anyone in the world, you’ve got to send a clear message to the young kiddies.

“He needs to get an eight-12 weeker (meaning eight-12 games).”

But Essendon champion Tim Watson disagreed, saying it should be just a fine, before clarifying with a much shorter suspension.

Teammate Andre Iguodala was fined $15,000 for verbally abusing a game official in the same incident.

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No excuse for that! Gotta remember who I am playing for...

— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) October 22, 2017

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Warriors coach Steve Kerr joked after the game that he was in the Lyon camp.

“I think he should be suspended eight, maybe 10 games for that,” he said sarcastically.

“It was egregious. It was awful. It endangered thousands of people in the stands.”

Curry told ESPN the mouthguard wasn’t meant for the ref.

“I didn’t throw my mouthpiece at the ref,” Curry told ESPN.

“I got better aim than that. I threw it out of frustration.”

“That last play, I thought I got fouled, and my frustration boiled over.

Don’t risk it with Razor Ray, Jack. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“I did something stupid. I deserved to get kicked out, and that’s what happened.

“Obviously, I’ll learn from it and try not to do it again.

“I’ve thrown my mouthpiece plenty of times and thrown it on the floor.

“It’s probably not the best thing to do, but I’ve done it.

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“I don’t think it’s a suspension or anything.

“My pockets will be a lot lighter for sure, though.”

Fellow star Kevin Durant was also ejected from the game for flipping the bird at the refs in the 111-101 loss that left the Warriors at 1-2 to start the NBA season before their win over Dallas.

—With AFP

Kevin Durant was also given his marching orders during the clash with the Grizzlies. Picture: AP