Warriors Steve Kerr issued MASSIVE fine by NBA for ‘verbally abusing’ referee
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS head coach Steve Kerr has been hit with a $25,000 fine by the NBA for “verbally abusing and confronting” a referee during their 129-107 defeat to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.
NBA: Coach Kerr SLAMS clipboard after Dray's flagrant foul
Kiki VanDeWeghe, the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations, announced the fine Thursday.
Kerr was ejected from the game after receiving two technical fouls in a matter of moments during his protests over a flagrant foul against Warriors star Draymond Green.
Kerr was caught on camera arguing with official Kenny Mauer after Green’s common foul on Portland's Zach Collins was upgraded to a flagrant foul late in the fourth quarter.
The 53-year-old was so angry he smashed his clipboard into the court and was then seen waving his arms and shouting at official, before being helped off the court by Kevin Durant.
There might have been a couple of other words in there too
The play in question happened with 3 minutes, 54 seconds left in the game and the Warriors were behind 110-103.
Collins was attempting a dunk when he was fouled by Green.
After the officials reviewed the clash, they upgraded it to a more severe foul.
Green expressed his frustration with how he was officiated against the Trail Blazers.
NBA: Steve Kerr comments on his referee outburst
"I got a lot of ball," Green said
"I don't know. It's the Draymond rule."
But Green revealed he did appreciated the way his coach stood up for him at the end of the game.
After the final buzzer Kerr said he was “shocked” over the call and explained what he had said on the court to the official Ken Mauer.
“I was just shocked that was called a flagrant foul,” Kerr said.
“I am not sure how that is determined, I am not sure if it is determined in New York or by the official on the floor.
“But that was head scratching, that could be called a flagrant foul.
“I mean the guy is going in for a dunk, you got to make sure he doesn’t dunk it.
“I told Kenny that I begged to differ.”
When speaking about what had happened Kerr admitted he had forgotten about spiking the clipboard into the court after the incident.
“I forgot about that part,” he said.
“There might have been a couple of other words in there too.
“I’ll have to ask the owner if the clipboard broke when I threw it down.
“I got a little anger out so that is good.”
As teams prepare to head into the break for the All-Star weekend, Golden State still sit atop of the Western Conference, but the leagues best record in now held by the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Warriors next game will be at home on February 22, as they host the Sacramento Kings at the Oracle Arena.