Updated 4:24 p.m.
MIAMI -- A contrite Joakim Noah was fined $50,000 Monday by the NBA for directing an anti-gay slur toward a fan during the first quarter of Sunday's Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.
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MIAMI - Chicago's Joakim Noah shouted an anti-gay slur at a fan sitting behind the Bulls' bench Sunday night in an incident that was captured by TNT. He apologized after the game.
"I got caught up," Noah said. "I don't mean no disrespect to anybody. I just got caught up."
Noah picked up his second foul with 6:26 left in the opening quarter. Cameras remained on the frustrated player as he went to the bench. The incident occurred after Noah sat down.
"The fan said something to me that I thought was disrespectful, and I got caught up in the moment, and I responded," Noah said. "I said some things that I shouldn't have said. ... I apologize."
A league spokesman had no comment Sunday night, but Noah faces a likely fine from a league that has taken a strong stance against homophobic comments.
Kobe Bryant was recently hit with a $100,000 fine for using the same anti-gay slur Noah was heard to say Sunday night against referee Bennie Adams last month. Bryant offered multiple apologies after the incident was heavily criticized by gay rights groups.
Also last month, Atlanta Braves coach Roger McDowell allegedly made homophobic comments, crude gestures and threatened a fan with a bat before a game in San Francisco. McDowell served a two-week suspension and also apologized for his remarks.
During Sunday night's game, the league broadcast commercials featuring players urging fans not to use slang terms for gays as insults.
Phoenix Suns president and CEO Rick Welts revealed to the public last week that he is gay, becoming one of the highest-ranking executives in the sports world to do so. He said he wants to break down one of the last significant social barriers in sports.