'NBA has a crisis' blasts ESPN star Tony Kornheiser in passionate live TV rant after Rudy Gobert's gesture to refs

ESPN's longtime personality, Tony Kornheiser, believes the NBA has a problem involving the integrity of the game.

The 75-year-old star expressed in a fiery rant on Monday that the "NBA has a crisis" after Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert made a money sign gesture towards the referees.

Gobert made headlines over the weekend when he was spotted flashing the signal during the Timberwolves' 113-104 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.

The incident happened late in the fourth quarter when Minnesota was leading 97-96.

Gobert tried to grab a rebound while surrounded by two defenders and was hit with a foul. 

The French big man was livid as he fouled out on the call. Gobert was then shortly hit with a technical foul after making the money sign with his hands. 

On Monday, during ESPN's popular long-standing program Pardon the Interruption, Kornheiser sounded the alarm about his concern for the league's officiating problem as it continues to grow and embrace sports gambling.

He pointed to a notable NBA betting scandal involving former referee Tim Donaghy.

Donaghy is widely known for his part in a massive gambling scheme that consisted of fixing games during the mid-2000s. 

Kornheiser suggests NBA commissioner Adam Silver needs to be ultra-aware and proactive to prevent something like that from happening again.

"I believe Adam Silver has a crisis right now," Kornheiser said before reading Goberts comments after the game.

He continued to detail, saying Gobert's insinuation that money can change the referee's opinion on calling the game should be a red flag for the NBA.

"Gobert is saying the guy is taking money," Kornheiser said.

"There's an integrity to the game. You can say he's joking, you can say he doesn't believe it, but he's saying it."

"And Adam Silver has this in the closet with Tim Donaghy. So you've got to go out there and make sure the public doesn't think (he's right)." 

"This is a big deal. In hindsight, I'm not sure the fine was enough."

The NBA fined Gobert $100,000 on Sunday, just two days after he alluded to referee Scott Foster, called the Friday night game suspiciously and that gambling is having an impact on the sport.