Timberwolves Short-Charged

The Minnesota Timberwolves and five of their players have been fined $37,500 by the NBA for wearing their shorts too long, the league announced Friday.

Chris Carr, Kevin Garnett, Stephon Marbury, Clifford Rozier and Doug West were fined $2,500 for failing to comply with the rule. The team was fined $25,000.

The players association said it will file a grievance.

“We intend to contest these ridiculous fines on behalf of our players to the maximum extent possible by the collective bargaining agreement,” said Bill Hunter, executive director of the union. “This is another example of the NBA’s continued efforts to exert greater control over our players.”

League ruled stipulate that shorts worn during a game must be no lower than one inch above the top of the knee at all times.

The Timberwolves were previously warned by the league about their uniforms, according to the union.

Other players who have been warned include Juwan Howard and Chris Webber of Washington, who helped popularize the style when they were among the Fab Five at Michigan, and Allan Iverson, Derrick Coleman and Rex Walters of Philadelphia.

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Dallas Maverick forward Kurt Thomas, who had bone graft surgery to repair his broken right ankle on May 29, has broken the ankle again.

The break apparently did not occur suddenly, but Thomas complained of pain in his ankle after practice Friday.

The Mavericks said more tests were scheduled, and a prognosis should be available next week.

Thomas, 25, has played in five games this season, averaging 7.4 points and 4.8 rebounds in 14.6 minutes.

He sat out the exhibition season while recovering from his surgery.