Tyronn Lue, the coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, was fined $35,000 for openly disparaging and casting doubt on the integrity of game referees.
The NBA made Lue’s fine public on Friday. The veteran coach’s remarks to his squad on Wednesday night following the Clippers’ victory against Golden State were the reason for the fine. Early in the fourth quarter, Lue was given two technical fouls in a row and was removed following a brief altercation between the teams.
Following Lue’s expulsion, the Clippers overcame a big deficit to defeat the Warriors 130-125. Lue was then seen on camera yelling to his players and staff, “Where the refs at now?,” in what appeared to be a semi-public area close to the Clippers’ locker room at Chase Center. Cheating. All they are doing is that.
Lue was reportedly heard shouting, “Where is James? The official. I want to give him a mouthful of kicks.
James Williams was among the trio of referees overseeing the match.
From the beginning of December, Lue’s Clippers have had a remarkable run, going 28-7 with rookie James Harden and becoming a serious threat to win the team’s first NBA championship.
After guiding the Clippers to three postseason trips and the team’s first-ever trip to the Western Conference finals, Lue is currently in his fourth season as head coach. With LeBron James and the Cavaliers, he won an NBA championship in his first season as head coach in 2016. Cleveland also advanced to the next two NBA Finals.
(AP)
