Dwyane Wade apologizes for throat-slash gesture, gets fined $25,000 anyway

When it comes to celebrating, the NBA has it all over the NFL. Plenty of acts that will get you popped for over $12,000 on a pro football field constitute the norm on a basketball court, where the boundaries regarding self-expression are far less stringent.

But one thing players absolutely cannot do in either league is simulate a throat slash, and that’s why Chicago Bulls guard Dwyane Wade is $25,000 lighter in the wallet right now.

Wade made his Bulls debut Thursday night, suiting up for his hometown team for the first time to take on the Boston Celtics at United Center. Wade rose to the occasion, scoring 22 points and drilling four of six three-point attempts, including what proved to be the back-breaker with 26.3 seconds left in Chicago’s eventual 105-99 win. The only problem is that after Wade hit the shot from between the right corner and wing, he brought his right hand to his neck and simulated the throat slash to signify that was that. Bad idea, D-Wade.

For his part, Wade recognized his mistake. The 34-year-old future Hall of Famer took to Twitter on Friday afternoon, a few hours before the NBA officially fined him the $25,000, and apologized to his “young fans.”

Wade didn’t make the best decision after making the shot that put the Celtics away Thursday night. But his response — whether he knew the fine was coming or not — was certainly the right thing to do.

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