15 Times Athletes Were Fined for Petty Reasons
From silly dress code violations to excessive celebrations, sometimes athletes get fined for the most ridiculous reasons.
- Chris Graciano
- 4 min read
Professional athletes expect to be fined for major rule-breaking, but some penalties seem outright absurd. Whether it’s wearing the wrong socks, celebrating too much, or even tweeting, leagues and organizations have cracked down on the pettiest infractions. Here are 15 times athletes lost money over seemingly trivial offenses.
1. Brandon Marshall – Fined for Wearing Green Cleats
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Marshall, who has been open about his struggles with mental health, wore green cleats to raise awareness. The NFL fined him $10,500 for violating uniform policy.
2. Cam Newton – Benched for Not Wearing a Tie
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Before a 2016 game, Newton was benched for the first play because he didn’t wear a tie on the team flight. The dress code violation may have seemed small, but Panthers coach Ron Rivera enforced the rule strictly.
3. James Harden – Penalized for Flopping
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Harden’s dramatic flops earned him a reputation—and a $5,000 fine. The NBA introduced a rule against excessive flopping, and Harden was among the first to be punished.
4. LeBron James – Fined for an Instagram Post
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LeBron shared a lyric from a rap song on Instagram, but the NBA deemed it inappropriate and fined him. The post didn’t seem controversial, but the league was cracking down on player social media activity.
5. Odell Beckham Jr. – Penalized for a Costly Watch
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OBJ took the field wearing a $350,000 Richard Mille watch, and the NFL wasn’t having it. The league fined him for violating the uniform policy, even though he argued it wasn’t a competitive issue.
6. Chad Johnson – Charged for Using a Pylon as a Prop
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The NFL fined Johnson (formerly Ochocinco) for pretending a pylon was a golf club during a touchdown celebration. The league had banned excessive celebrations, and Johnson’s playful act cost him thousands.
7. J.R. Smith – Penalized for a Tattoo
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Smith was fined because of his Supreme logo tattoo, which the NBA said violated its policy against corporate branding. He initially refused to cover it but later complied to avoid further penalties.
8. Tim Duncan – Fined for Laughing on the Bench
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Duncan was hit with a technical foul—and later fined—because referee Joey Crawford thought he was laughing too much on the bench. The bizarre call led to Crawford being suspended for unprofessional behavior.
9. Nick Kyrgios – Fined for Not Trying Hard Enough
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The ATP fined Kyrgios for “lack of effort” during a match, arguing that he wasn’t playing seriously. Fans were divided—some felt he was just having an off day, while others thought the punishment was justified.
10. Colin Kaepernick – Penalized for Wearing Beats by Dre
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Despite Beats being a popular brand, Kaepernick was fined because the NFL had an exclusive sponsorship deal with Bose. The rule was widely mocked, as many players still used Beats headphones off the field.
11. Ezekiel Elliott – Fined for Jumping into a Salvation Army Kettle
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During a touchdown celebration, Elliott jumped into a giant Salvation Army donation kettle. Though it was harmless and even promoted charity, the NFL fined him for excessive celebration.
12. Devin Booker – Fined for an On-Court “Double Team” Complaint
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Booker was playing a casual offseason pickup game when he complained about defenders double-teaming him. His comment went viral, and the NBA responded with a fine for “unsportsmanlike conduct.”
13. Dwyane Wade – Penalized for Doing a Throat-Slash Gesture
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After a clutch shot, Wade made a throat-slash gesture—a common sports celebration at the time. The NBA immediately fined him, citing unsportsmanlike conduct.
14. Rickie Fowler – Fined for Wearing the Wrong Shorts
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Fowler, known for his bold golf fashion, was fined for wearing shorts during a practice round. The PGA had strict dress codes, even for casual events.
15. Steph Curry – Penalized for Throwing His Mouthguard
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Curry, frustrated after a bad call, tossed his mouthguard—accidentally hitting a fan. The NBA slapped him with a fine, even though he apologized immediately.