Mavericks coach fined for criticizing NBA officials, profane language after loss
The Dallas Mavericks fell 111-107 on Saturday to the Houston Rockets and after the game Mavs head coach Jason Kidd ripped into referees for what he deemed a missed call that could’ve tied the game with 25 seconds remaining.
“I saw a foul. Sean [Wright], Simone [Jelks], and Jason [Goldberg] were awful tonight. It’s unacceptable. It’s a foul, and he needs to be at the free-throw line. Does he make both? That’s up to the player,” Kidd said.
The NBA responded on Monday, fining Kidd $35,000 for his comments on the refs as well as using profane language during a media interview.
The coarse language came after Kidd was asked to respond to early season critiques of Mavs rookie Cooper Flagg playing point guard, which some felt would hinder his development.
Flagg’s played at a high level all season and was coming off one of his best games against the Rockets, scoring 34 points with 12 rebounds and five assists after scoring 49 points in a loss to the Charlotte Hornets.
Flagg became the youngest player in NBA history to have back to back 30-point double-doubles.
Kidd explained exactly what he thought about national pundits who had critiques of him.
“Criticism? That’s your opinion. You guys write that [expletive]. I’ve done this. I’ve played this game. I played it. I know what the [expletive] I’m doing,” said Kidd, “I don’t give a [expletive] what you guys write because you guys have never played the game. I build players, so I know what the [expletive] I’m doing. So if I take criticism, it only makes me better, because if I wasn’t doing it right, you guys wouldn’t be poking holes in what I’ve done.”
Flagg has the best odds to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award averaging 19.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game this season.
