NBA issues fine and public reprimand for comments by Sacramento Kings’ DeMar DeRozan
As reported by ABC News.
The NBA has fined and publicly reprimanded Sacramento Kings power forward DeMar DeRozan for inflammatory remarks he made during a recent post-game interview. The league announced the decision on Tuesday, citing violations of its standards governing public criticism of officiating and conduct detrimental to the game.
The Incident
The debate arose after the Kings’ hard-fought loss to the Denver Nuggets last Friday, during which numerous questionable foul decisions were made against Sacramento in the final moments. During his post-game press conference, DeRozan did not mince words, expressing dissatisfaction with the officiating and making remarks that the NBA judged excessive.
“It’s the same thing every game,” DeRozan explained at the time. “We fight hard, we play the correct way, and still the calls don’t go our way. It’s tough because it feels like we’re up against more than simply the opposing squad.”
League officials evaluated the comments and found that DeRozan’s statements broke league standards for public criticism of refereeing. In addition to his comments against officials, DeRozan made harsh statements about league balance, implying that smaller market clubs, like as Sacramento, frequently have disadvantages in officiating decisions.
NBA’s response
In a statement provided by the NBA, Commissioner Adam Silver highlighted that, while players are encouraged to vent their emotions, direct public criticism of referees is inappropriate.
“While we respect and appreciate the passion players bring to the game, we have a responsibility to uphold the integrity of our officiating staff and maintain professionalism across the league,” Silver told the crowd. “Comments that challenge the credibility of our referees in such a public manner warrant disciplinary action.”
As a result, the NBA fined DeRozan $35,000 and issued a formal reprimand.
Reaction of DeRozan and the Kings
DeRozan has subsequently replied to the fine, saying: “I stand by my words, but I understand the league’s viewpoint. My concentration is still on helping this team win.”
Meanwhile, the Kings have declined to speak publicly, but insiders say they support their senior boss.
As the Kings battle for a playoff spot, all eyes will be on how this situation affects DeRozan and the team going forward.