NBA fines Raptors coach Nick Nurse for criticizing officials in defense of Kawhi Leonard
Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse has been fined $15,000 for his public criticism of officials in defense of superstar Kawhi Leonard after Sunday’s loss to the Denver Nuggets, the league announced.
Nurse made his comments after Leonard made just two trips to the free-throw line despite driving to the basket on 24 occasions, according to Second Spectrum’s tracking data. The Raptors were whistled for 16 fouls and attempted 14 free throws in a 95-86 loss to the Nuggets (14 fouls, 16 free throws).
“It’s been going on all year,” Nurse told reporters after the defeat. “Tonight was a very severe case of a guy who was playing great, taking it to the rim and just getting absolutely held, grabbed, poked, slapped, hit and everything. And they refused to call any of it. It’s unbelievable to me. It’s ridiculous. The guy is one of the best players in the league, and he doesn’t complain, he doesn’t do this, he doesn’t do that, and they just turn their head and go the other way. It’s been going on all year.”
He added, “You can’t tell me that one of the best players in the league takes a hundred hits in that game and shoots four free throws. And they handed him two for charity at the end. So, he was going to have two free throws for the game, with all the physical hits and holding and driving and chucking and doubling and slapping and reaching and all the stuff? But 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.”
Leonard was asked about his coach’s comments and danced around it enough to avoid a fine.
“It’s been like that all year, but in this era and how the rules are today, I agree with him: It’s been very physical,” said Leonard. “But I just go with the next play. It can only get me ready for what’s to come. I just pride myself to keep moving and keep going. There are games when I do talk and get no calls, so I don’t know what it is. I’ve just got to keep going and keep playing basketball. I can fight through it.”
Nurse got his money’s worth. He both sent a message to the league that Leonard isn’t getting the calls worthy of fellow superstars like LeBron James or James Harden and a signal to Leonard that he has his player’s back. The latter is well worth the investment, given Leonard’s status as a 2019 free agent.
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Ben Rohrbach is a staff writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at rohrbach_ben@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @brohrbach
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