Collin Sexton’s $35K Welcome Gift: The Bulls, The Bird, and The Rim

There is making a first impression, and then there is whatever Collin Sexton just did.

Usually, when a player gets traded to a new city, the “Welcome to Chicago” moment involves a press conference, holding up a jersey, and maybe a polite soundbite about loving deep-dish pizza. Sexton, true to his “Young Bull” persona, decided to go a different route. Two games into his tenure with the Bulls, he has already lighter in the wallet and heavier in the meme department.

Collin Sextion Slammed With Fine

On Tuesday, the NBA announced that Sexton had been slapped with a $35,000 fine for “making an inappropriate gesture on the playing court.” If you missed the game against the Brooklyn Nets, you might assume he got into it with a fan, a referee, or perhaps a chirping opponent.

You would be wrong. Collin Sexton got into a beef with the rim. And it cost him a mid-sized sedan.

The Incident: Man vs. Machine

The moment in question occurred late in the third quarter of Monday’s 123-115 loss to the Nets. Sexton, who is known for playing with a motor that runs purely on caffeine and chaos, stepped to the free-throw line. He split the pair, going 1-of-2.

Frustration is a normal part of the game. We see players clap their hands, yell at the ceiling, or untuck their jerseys. Sexton, however, let the intrusive thoughts win. As he retreated on defense, he turned back and extended a middle finger directly at the basket support.

The rim did not taunt him. The stanchion did not comment on his shooting mechanics. It was a one-sided argument with an inanimate object, and the object won. It was hilarious, relatable, and incredibly expensive.

It’s worth noting that before this week, Sexton had been fined just twice in his career—both times for flopping, totaling a modest $2,000 each. Tuesday’s penalty was a 1,650% increase in disciplinary fees. Welcome to the big leagues of bad behavior, Collin.

A Turbulent Timeline for the “Young Bull”

To understand the frustration, you have to look beyond the finger. You have to look at the roadmap. Sexton’s journey to the Windy City hasn’t exactly been a direct flight; it’s been a layover nightmare.

He spent the first four years of his career in Cleveland before being shipped to the Utah Jazz for a three-year stint. Then, the 2025-26 campaign saw him moved to the Charlotte Hornets in the offseason. He didn’t even get comfortable in Charlotte before he was packed up again at the deadline, sent to Chicago alongside Ousmane Dieng and second-round picks.

The trade itself was a mess. The deal, which sent Coby White and Mike Conley Jr. back to Charlotte, actually had to be amended due to a calf injury discovered during White’s physical. That kind of uncertainty—living out of a suitcase, not knowing if the trade will actually clear—weighs on a player.

So when he steps onto the court for a struggling Bulls team and shoots a rugged 7-of-18 from the field, the pressure cooker lid blows off. Is flipping off a basketball hoop the most mature way to handle it? No. Is it the most entertaining thing to happen to the Bulls in months? Absolutely.

The “Tank Commander” Chicago Needs?

Let’s be real about where the Chicago Bulls are right now. Sitting in 11th place in the East with a 24-30 record, they are currently riding a six-game losing streak. The post-deadline roster is a hodgepodge of young talent and cast-off guards, including Jaden Ivey, Anfernee Simons, and Rob Dillingham.

They are 0-3 since the new guys arrived.

In many ways, Sexton is the perfect avatar for this specific era of Bulls basketball. He scored 21 points off the bench in the loss to the Nets, providing a spark of offense that was desperately needed. He plays hard. He engages the crowd. He cares, arguably too much.

The Bulls are in a “soft rebuild”—or what the internet affectionately calls “ethical tanking.” They aren’t trying to lose on purpose, but the roster construction ensures that wins will be hard to come by. Sexton fits this mold perfectly. He is a high-volume scorer who can keep the United Center entertained while the team inevitably slides down the standings for a better draft pick.

Whether Sexton is a long-term piece of the puzzle remains to be seen. With a crowded backcourt, he might just be a trade chip for the next offseason. But for now, he’s here, he’s loud, and he’s $35,000 poorer. If this is just week one, Bulls fans are in for a wild ride.