Only days after earning his first standard NBA contract, Miami Heat swingman Myron Gardner found himself facing an unexpected setback when the league handed him a $35K fine for his involvement in an on-court altercation with Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr.
The incident, which escalated and spilled into the crowd area, drew additional scrutiny from the NBA and ultimately led to disciplinary action.
According to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald, Gardner maintained that the contact with Pippen was unintentional and that he did not deliberately bump him from behind during the sequence.
The situation quickly gained attention because of where it ended up, with both players moving into the stands, prompting the league to respond firmly.
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra expressed disagreement with the punishment, suggesting the NBA may have been attempting to send a broader message due to the involvement of spectators.
“We disagree with (Gardner’s fine),” Spoelstra said.
“Pippen is the one that pushed it into the stands, and Myron didn’t really retaliate. Once he was on the ground, he was laughing. So if it was somebody else, I don’t think it would have been (a) $35,000 fine. But we’ll move on.”
Southeast Notes: Bane, Davis, Gardner, Heat, Giannis https://t.co/mI9r8ul7fk pic.twitter.com/2X6Q0W2glb
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) February 24, 2026
