Watch Kevin Durant’s ‘menacing’ $25,000 throat-slashing gesture

Kevin Durant is one of the NBA’s most beloved stars, but that wasn’t enough to keep him from a $25,000 fine for pretending to cut his throat after a dunk against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday.

Durant’s score and what the NBA deemed a “menacing gesture,” came off a Russell Westbrook block on the defensive end of the floor during the second quarter of Oklahoma City’s 116-97 win over Golden State.

Westbrook, guarding Stephen Curry, chased down the smaller point guard and swatted away his layup, sending the ball into Durant’s hands.

Durant then took the ball up the court and as Golden State was setting back up on defense, the Thunder’s leading scorer slipped unabated to the basket for the slam.

The $25,000 fine came for the hand motion afterward, which you can observe at the 25-second mark of the video above.

“Kill ‘em and pray for ‘em after the game,” Durant said, according to the Associated Press. “It’s nothing against the team I’m playing against. Come out with a mind-set and be friends after the game.”

ALSO:

Stephen Jackson waived by the Spurs

Reggie Theus introduced as new coach at Cal State Northridge

Cynthia Cooper-Dyke expects big things for USC women’s basketball