Dwight Howard Fined $35,000 For Flagrant Foul

The NBA has levied a $35,000 fine against Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard for his flagrant foul on Kenneth Faried on Wednesday night.

Howard was given a flagrant 2 foul during the Lakers’ 126-112 loss on Wednesday night and was ejected from the game. Howard said that he didn’t intend to injure Faried and that he was surprise that the ref gave him a flagrant 2 foul.

Howard said:

“I was surprised it was a flagrant 2. My intention was never to hurt Faried. I like the young fellow and my intention was just to foul. I come down the lane, somebody is going to foul me hard, put me on the free throw line and make me shoot free throws. It was the same kind of thing.”

The league, of course, saw it a little different. Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Stu Jackson announced today that Howard would be fined $35,000 for the foul. Howard may not agree with the fall but at least one person does: Kenneth Faried.

Faried said:

“He saw my eyes, I wasn’t going to back down, I wasn’t going to try to float it. I was going to try to dunk on him. He saw it. That’s why he put his hand directly in my face.”

Do you think Dwight Howard deserved a $35,000 fine?