Russell Westbrook got ejected from Monday’s Kings-Thunder game with just one very sudden traveling call. With under three minutes to go in the game, Westbrook drove and thought he got fouled. He went down holding his face, but only drew the traveling violation from referee Matt Boland. When Westbrook tried to plead his case, he got two straight technicals with almost no time between them.
Westbrook avoided the media after the game, but his teammate, Carmelo Anthony, had harsh words for the officials. Via ESPN:
“I’m done with them,” Anthony said, cutting off a question about the officials. “I’m done with the refs. No disrespect, but I’m done with those guys.”
Just last week, Anthony criticized NBA refs for having too quick a trigger on technical fouls and limiting dialogue with the players. His comments fit a trend, as a greater number of players are lamenting the disconnect between players and officials. Most notably, Draymond Green suggested replacing all of the league’s current referees to ditch the bad blood. A meeting between players and officials is scheduled for the All-Star Weekend to try and cool some of the tensions.