NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr was issued a $25,000 fine Sunday by the NBA for public criticism of officiating, ripping into league referees for uncalled traveling violations.
The comments were made last Thursday when Kerr was being interviewed on radio station KNBR in the wake of Golden State’s 127-121 victory a night earlier at Toronto.
When others noted the high number of missed traveling calls by NBA referees, Kerr joined in, remarking specifically about a four-stride move to the basket by Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan against the Warriors that was not whistled.
“How is it that everybody on Earth can see these traveling violations except for the three people we pay to do the job?” Kerr said. “I don’t get it. It’s bizarre.”
Kerr said referees are being asked to watch so many things during a game — lane violations, bumping fouls, charging, defenders positioning for blocking fouls — that they can sometimes miss violations more obvious and basic, ones easily seen by spectators.
“I can literally put together a blooper reel of plays that are embarrassing travels that are just not called,” Kerr said. “It’s a shame. Guys are getting away with murder out there.”
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