Why NBA punish David Adelman? Denver Nuggets head coach hit with a massive 35K penalty

The Denver Nuggets expected Saturday night at Ball Arena to be another step forward in a strong Western Conference season. However, it became a costly evening for the team. Head coach David Adelman, who is still early in his first full season leading the franchise, watched events spiral late in a loss to the Houston Rockets.

On Sunday, the league fined Adelman $35,000 for directing inappropriate language at game officials and for failing to leave the court promptly after his ejection. It marked the first ejection of his NBA coaching career and added an unexpected chapter to Denver’s 115-101 defeat, which also snapped a six-game winning streak.

Why NBA fined David Adelman after Rockets loss

Nikola Jokic absorbed what the Nuggets believed were debatable fouls. David Adelman picked up a technical foul in the first half and remained vocal as the game tightened in the fourth quarter.

Frustration peaked after Jokic was hit on the arm and lost possession without a whistle. Adelman reacted instantly, sprinting toward an official as emotions boiled over.

“You are f***ing terrible, man!” Adelman reportedly yelled. Assistants rushed in as he followed the official across the floor. A second technical foul was assessed, triggering an automatic ejection at the 8:40 mark of the fourth quarter with Denver trailing 80-72.

Assistant coach Jared Dudley stepped in to finish the game.Afterward, Adelman described, “So, honestly, I was confused,” he said. “So, I was just looking for answers and I went out there to find them and it turns out I had to leave.”

NBA fined David Adelman and the impact on Denver

The league announcement on Sunday cited both the language used toward officials and Adelman’s delay in exiting the court. Adelman later acknowledged that emotions took over and responsibility rested with him.“It seemed like [the official] just kept walking away farther and farther,” he said. “I thought we would talk, and it turns out they told me I had to leave. So yeah, it was a tough night for us for sure.”Despite the loss, Denver remains 20-7 and second in the Western Conference. Jokic finished with 25 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, though the team struggled from deep, hitting only 8 of 29 attempts. Houston controlled the second half behind a 31-point performance from Kevin Durant.Also Read: Sacramento Kings vs Houston Rockets (12-21-2025) game preview: When and where to watch, expected lineup, injury report, prediction, and more