Stoudemire fined $50K for using gay slur in direct message to fan on Twitter

Stoudemire was fined $50,000 for a slur used toward another Twitter user. (Getty Images)

The NBA fined Knicks F Amar'e Stoudemire $50,000 Tuesday in response to his use of a gay slur in a Direct Message to a Twitter user who had baited him over the weekend. The user had taken screenshots of the messages Stoudemire sent and posted them.

The fine for Stoudemire matches what Joakim Noah received for using the phrase during an NBA game aimed at a fan. Kobe Bryant was fined $100k for a similar instance.

It's disappointing that Stoudemire, one of the more culturally aware players in the league, would resort to such language. It's a disgrace for the Knicks and the league, and as was the case with both Bryant and Noah, there's absolutely no excuse for it. Stoudemire shouldn't be responding to nonsense trolls on Twitter in the first place, but more importantly, that terminology shouldn't be used by anyone. But it was. And it's maybe a sign that Stoudemire's cultural exploration and reading selections don't result in a higher sensitivity.

Regrettable, in every way.