“Fining Fears is wrong”: Fans side with Jeremiah Fears as NBA fines him and Luguentz Dort $25K

The Thunder had just beaten the Pelicans 104–95 and tensions were high. Right after the final buzzer, Dort and Fears got physical, quite literally with shoving, grabbing each other’s jerseys, and basically letting the game’s energy spill over. Players from both benches had to rush in to separate the two before things escalated further.

But grab your popcorn, NBA fans because the Thunder vs. The Pelicans game didn’t just end with a scoreboard update. As Luguentz Dort and Jeremiah Fears got into a heated confrontation after the final buzzer, the league now has hit them with fines.

NBA slaps $25K fines to both Dort & Fears as their post game confrontation goes viral

The NBA clearly wasn’t having it. Both Dort and Fears were fined $25,000 each for their actions. No suspensions, no missed games just a reminder that while the league allows intensity, it draws the line at postgame shoving.



On-court altercations are part of basketball but the NBA has strict rules about postgame conduct. Even though the referees didn’t call fouls during the scuffle and nothing escalated to punches, the league fined both players for “conduct detrimental to the league.” Basically: “Cool it, guys. Keep it professional.”




Fans, of course, are loving the drama. Social media immediately exploded with debate about who started it, who overreacted, and whether the fine was fair. Some are even joking that this incident made the game more entertaining than the final score.


Basically, a lot of people are saying Dort deserved the fine, but Fears was just standing his ground after a shove, and the NBA went a little overboard. Naturally, this is fueling talk about “league bias.”




Luguentz Dort is known for his gritty defense and no-nonsense attitude. He’s a player who thrives on intensity and has been in his fair share of on-court scuffles. His competitive nature often makes him a fan favorite but occasionally puts him in hot water with the league.

Jeremiah Fears, on the other hand, is a rising star with fire in his veins. The Pelicans guard is all about competitive energy, and when the game gets heated, he’s not shy about showing it even after the final buzzer.

Combine two fiery personalities in a tight game, and yeah… a little postgame chaos happens.





Get the latest WPL 2026 updates including WPL teams, full WPL 2026 schedule, and live scores for Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, UP Warriorz, Gujarat Giants, and Delhi Capitals. Also check the latest WPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.