Amare Stoudemire fined for offensive Twitter message

Amare Stoudemire. AFP FILE PHOTO

NEW YORK—New York Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire was fined $50,000 by the NBA on Tuesday for offensive and derogatory language in a Twitter message after reportedly using a gay slur in a tweet to a heckler.

A report on the Deadspin website last week showed what appeared to be direct messages from the microblogging site from Stoudemire to a basketball fan who had chided the playmaker about his work ethic.

Stoudemire’s reply on June 23 was brief and included a profanity as well as a homophobic insult. An apology posting from Stoudemire was also shown, having been sent 10 hours later, according to the website.

Stoudemire averaged 17.5 points and 7.8 rebounds a game last season for the Knicks, who were ousted by the eventual NBA champion Miami Heat in the opening round of this year’s playoffs.