Raptors Coach Fined $15K for Criticizing Officials Over No-Calls on Kawhi Leonard
Written by SOURCE on December 18, 2018
The NBA fined Raptors coach Nick Nurse for publicly condemning the officiating of his star Kawhi Leonard, after Denver’s 95-86 win over the Raptors on Sunday.
After Denver’s win, Nurse publicly derided how the refs called his star.
”Tonight was a very severe case of a guy who was playing great, taking it to the rim, and just absolutely getting held, grabbed, poked, slapped, hit and everything,” Nurse said. “You can’t tell me one of the best players in the league takes a hundred hits in that game and shoots four free throws. It’s been going on all year. I do not understand why they are letting everybody play one of the best players in the league so physically. I do not understand.”
While Leonard agreed, he downplayed the whole thing, as is his fashion.
”It’s been very physical. I just go with the next play,” Leonard said. ”I pride myself on just keep moving and keep going.” But when told of the comments, he seemed happy. “When your coach is seeing the same things you are feeling, it’s great,” Leonard said.
Kawhi is averaging 6.8 free-throw attempts per game so far this season, the second-highest mark of his career, behind his last full season with the Spurs.
Here’s what the fine means in Canadian currency:
And here’s why Nurse said what he did knowing full well a fine was coming.
