NBA stands by late foul Steve Kerr called 'unconscionable'

Even non-Warriors fans sympathized with Steve Kerr's team when the officials called a loose ball foul on Jonathan Kuminga in the dying seconds of their NBA Cup quarterfinal against the Rockets on Wednesday. 

Historically, referees call a jump ball in such scenarios where players scramble for a loose ball on the floor — especially in the theoretical final possession of a game. 

Instead, referee Bill Kennedy went against the grain by calling a foul on Kuminga, triggering an outburst from Kerr, who referred to the call as an "unconscionable" one that "even an elementary school referee" would not have made with the game on the line.

Kerr — a part of the NBA for four decades as a player, executive and coach — said he had never seen such a call being made through all his years in the league.

"I've never seen a loose ball foul on a jump ball situation, 80 feet from the basket with the game on the line. I've never seen that," Kerr told reporters after Golden State's NBA Cup ouster. "I think saw it in college one time 30 years ago. Never seen it in the NBA."

To pour salt into the Warriors' wounds, the NBA's Last Two Minute Report (L2M) stood by the on-court referee's call, noting that Kuminga reached over Green "in an attempt to get to the ball and pulls his shoulder down" while the two fought for the loose ball. The L2M also noted that Brandin Podziemski did not inbound the ball within five seconds after Green's go-ahead free throws and that the Warriors should have been called for a violation.