'Outrageous': Emboldened coaches fuming over inconsistent NBA officiating
NBA officiating is becoming problematic, an issue highlighted Sunday during Milwaukee's 143-142 overtime win over Sacramento.
In the fourth quarter, Kings coach Mike Brown was ejected for complaining about calls. Afterward, he weighed in strongly on what he called inconsistent officiating — one of several head coaches recently who felt emboldened to do so.
"I don't know if it'll have an impact, but I've never seen [coaches] so outspoken and direct with their displeasure to referees," NBA reporter Jason Dumas wrote on X.
During a news conference after Sacramento's loss, Brown showed clips on his laptop of what he termed inconsistent officiating.
"The referees are human, and they're going to make mistakes, but you just hope that there's some sort of consistency and there's some sort of communication between the refs," he said. "The refs tonight, they were great, they communicated with me all night. But in terms of consistency, you guys saw it right there. In my opinion, the consistency wasn't here tonight."
After the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Toronto Raptors 132-131 on Jan. 9, Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković ripped game officials.
"What happened tonight is completely B.S," he said of the officiating, which he termed "outrageous."
"This is shame. Shame for the referees. Shame for the league to allow this. 23 free throws for them, and we get two free throws in the fourth quarter." The NBA fined Rajaković $25,000 for publicly criticizing the officials.
After a loss a 108-107 loss to the Miami Heat on Nov. 6, Lakers head coach Darvin Ham expressed his frustration with the officiating.
"I've been around a long time," Ham said, per ESPN's David McMenamin. "We just want balance and consistency. That's it."
In a Christmas Day showdown, the Golden State Warriors fell 120-114 to the reigning champs, the Denver Nuggets. However, the game was marred as two-time MVP Nikola Jokić flopped and flailed his way to the free-throw line possession after possession. He shot a career-high 18-for-18 from the line.
"I have a problem with how we are legislating the defense out of the game," Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said afterward. "We are enabling players to B.S. their way to the foul line. If I were a fan, I wouldn't have wanted to watch the second half of that game. It was disgusting."
Earlier this season, Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins lit into officials after a 133-109 loss to the Utah Jazz on Nov. 1, a game in which the Jazz attempted 29 free throws to Memphis' 13.
"[That was] one of the most poorly officiated games I've ever seen," he said. "... [Expletive] atrocious." The NBA fined Jenkins $25,000 for ripping into the officials.
This season is rife with examples highlighting a growing problem within the league. It's impacting the integrity of the game and demands action from NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
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