LOS ANGELES — NBA commissioner David Stern says LeBron James has been fined $25,000 for skipping the postgame news conference after Cleveland lost to Orlando in the Eastern Conference finals.

Stern said Thursday night that he spoke with the Cavaliers star yesterday and that James admitted he was wrong to not congratulate Orlando's players and coaches after the loss.

James had surgery Tuesday to remove a benign growth near his jaw. He told Stern to convey his apology to the media before Game 1 of the NBA finals between the Magic and Los Angeles Lakers.

Initially, Stern had said he wasn't going to fine James, but the commissioner said he reconsidered after thinking about it more.