MANHATTAN — New York Knicks guard Nate Robinson was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Monday after his agent requested a trade last week.
The league announced in a statement that Robinson was penalized "for public statements detrimental to the NBA."
According to the NBA, the statements concerned a trade request made my Robinson’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, on Dec. 19.
"Players are not permitted to make trade requests publicly and are responsible for public statements relating to them made by their representatives," NBA spokesman Tim Frank told the Associated Press.
Robinson himself, though, never publicly asked for a trade.
“I want to be a Knick,” Robinson told reporters after Goodwin demanded the trade, according to the New York Times. “I want to stay here.”
Robinson, a two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion and fan favorite, has been benched by coach Mike D'Antoni for the month of December. The Knicks are 8-5 with Robinson out of the lineup.
Goodwin criticized Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni for benching Robinson, apparently for personal reasons.
On Sunday, the Knicks lost to the San Antonio Spurs 95-88.
