Olajuwon Hit With $5,000 Fine, Reid Penalized $1,000 for Fighting

HOUSTON — Houston’s Akeem Olajuwon was fined $5,000 and Charlotte’s J.R. Reid was fined $1,000 Friday for their fight in the third quarter of an NBA game Thursday night

Olajuwon’s fine was for initiating the fight, and Reid was fined for elbowing and fighting.

Both players were ejected in the third quarter of the game at the Summit in Houston.

Olajuwon said he reacted despite a move by the NBA to crack down on fighting.

“I’ve been aware of that (stricter rules enforcement) but when somebody does something like that, you can get into it,” Olajuwon said.

Reid said he was just trying to work his way through Olajuwon’s pick. Olajuwon said he did so with his elbow.

Reid was involved in a Nov. 21 incident when he elbowed Miami’s Billy Thompson in the mouth, causing him to lose four teeth.

It was Olajuwon’s first altercation this season. He was fined $5,000 for fighting with Seattle’s Michael Cage in March, 1988.