NBA Fines Tom Chambers $1,000 for Game 2 Remarks About Official

Rod Thorn, vice president of the National Basketball Assn., said Friday the league is fining Seattle SuperSonics’ forward Tom Chambers $1,000 for remarks he made about official Ed Middleton after the Lakers’ victory Tuesday night in Game 2 at the Forum.

Chambers told reporters that Middleton “must have had a wager on the game” and that the SuperSonics “got shafted” by the officials, especially Middleton.

Thorn fined Chambers the maximum amount that is allowed under the rule concerning conduct detrimental to the league.

“He earned it,” Thorn said of Chambers’ fine. “Tom has said things like this in the past, it’s part of his schtick, but it’s going to cost him this time.”

Chambers said Middleton blew one play in particular. Laker A.C. Green accidentally rapped Chambers on the head, but Middleton called a foul on Chambers even though the official was standing near midcourt.

However, Thorn said that after reviewing a videotape of the game, the play Chambers was talking about actually began with Chambers pushing off on Green.