NBA’s Rudy Gobert Speaks On $100K Fine, Emotions Took Over!

Rudy Gobert is addressing his whopping $100k fine for making a money gesture toward officials last week … telling TMZ Sports he simply reached his boiling point and reacted with his emotions.

Gobert made the Johnny Manziel-esque hand sign at official Scott Foster during the Minnesota Timberwolves vs Cleveland Cavs game on March 8 … insinuating refs are influenced by sports betting.

The 3-time All-Star also called out the refs during the post-game press conference … saying he felt gambling has really hurt the sport.

We caught up with the Minnesota Timberwolves center on Rodeo Drive just a few days after the league handed down the 6-figure penalty for his actions and postgame comments … and although the dude has made more than $217 MILLION over the course of his career, even he had to admit that’s a huge hit financially.

“How I feel about the fine? I mean it’s a fine. It’s a lot of money,” Gobert said … before explaining his actions.

“We human beings at the end of the day. We not always right but everyone’s allowed to speak their mind. Also, it’s a game with a lot of emotions so sometimes we react off of frustration.”

Gobert — who is averaging 13.7 points and 12.9 rebounds per game this season — got the maximum fine that a player can get for conduct or statements detrimental to the team or league … but Charles Barkley believes he should’ve been suspended for it.

“It will ruin a sport if people thought it was fixed,” the ex-NBA star said on “NBA on TNT.”