Barkley Loses $10,000 in Fine, $29,500 in Salary

Charles Barkley’s latest violation of NBA rules will cost him about $39,500.

It might have cost the Phoenix Suns a victory.

Barkley was suspended for one game without pay by the NBA and fined $10,000 Wednesday for vaulting over a scorer’s table and arguing with an official at Monday’s game against the New York Knicks.

The Suns lost without Barkley, 123-119, to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.

Barkley’s behavior in the Suns’ 106-103 loss to the Knicks was criticized by NBA Vice President Rod Thorn, who levied the penalties.

Based on his salary of $2.42 million this season, Barkley lost $29,500 in salary. Including lost salary, he has been fined more than $140,000 since 1989.

“I made a mistake, and they’re going to suspend me for the game,” Barkley said Wednesday. “I just have to deal with it. . . . I don’t think it warranted a suspension. But I know what they got to do. They got to keep people coming, so they’ve got to control the image of the league. So I understand that.”

Barkley shot an airball on a three-point attempt with 11 seconds to play Monday, then complained to referee Jim Clark that he had been fouled by Anthony Mason. As the game wound down, Barkley continued his argument with Clark.

When warned by Clark that the outburst would cost him money, Barkley became enraged, taking off after the official, who was heading for the exit ramp leading to the locker room.

“Our rules are clear that players and coaches are to go immediately from the court to the locker room, both at halftime and at the end of the game, without any discussion with the game officials,” Thorn said. “Conduct such as Charles displayed on Monday cannot be tolerated.”

Madison Square Garden security guards blocked Barkley’s path, but later he denied that he had anything violent in mind. He said part of the reason he was penalized was that the incident occurred close to the NBA’s offices.

While with the Philadelphia 76ers last season, Barkley was fined $10,000 and suspended for one game for spitting at a fan. In 1990, he paid $39,000 in fines and was fined $45,000 the previous season.

“It’s over now,” Barkley said. “It really don’t matter, if you do something wrong in life, it really doesn’t matter if you regret it or not. It’s over with. You just have to deal with the repercussions.”