Brooklyn Nets assistant coach fined $10,000 for deflecting pass during NBA game against Washington Wizards

By Ben Morse, CNN

Updated 1108 GMT (1908 HKT) January 21, 2022

David Vanterpool in the second quarter of the Minnesota Timberwolves' game against the Denver Nuggets in 2019 while he was an assistant coach for the team.

(CNN)Brooklyn Nets assistant coach David Vanterpool has been fined $10,000 for deflecting a pass during the NBA game against the Washington Wizards.

With 5:42 remaining in the fourth quarter in the game at the Capital One Arena on Wednesday and with the Nets leading 109-103, Vanterpool reached out onto the court from the bench and deflected a pass from Wizards guard Spencer Dinwiddie to Kyle Kuzma. The incident caused the Wizards to lose the ball and the officials missed the incident, something referee crew chief Ben Taylor confirmed in the pool report after the game. It resulted in a chaotic few minutes as Washington players expressed their anger at the officials. The team had already used their coach's challenge so the Wizards could not contest the decision. Bradley Beal drives to the basket during the game against the Brooklyn Nets.Vanterpool was fined for «interfering with live play by reaching across the sideline and deflecting an opponent's pass,» according to the NBA. The Nets, who went onto win the game 119-118, were also fined $25,000. Read MoreWith Washington coach Wes Unseld Jr. in health and safety protocols, assistant coach for the Wizards and interim head coach Joe Blair expressed his shock at the incident. «My reaction was utter disbelief. I've never seen, in my very long time in basketball, something happen like that that the referees didn't see,» Blair said.Kyrie Irving goes to the basket against Kyle Kuzma.Kuzma did not mince his words in the post-game press conference when asked about