Steve Kerr Officiating Complaints Come Across as Sour Grapes to Some
Not everyone seems to be as “disgusted” with NBA officiating as Golden State head coach Steve Kerr. After the Warriors lost to the Nuggets on Christmas in a game where Denver’s Nikola Jokic made his way to the free throw line 18 times, Kerr lambasted the refs for what he perceived as excessive fouls. However, not everyone agrees with Kerr’s assessment.
One former NBA player, Chandler Parsons, dismissed Kerr’s complaints as frustration. Parsons stated on the podcast “Run It Back,” “Yes, it’s boring. Yes, it’s not fun to watch, but this just seems like frustration. Worry about Jamal Murray getting 28 on you, not the other guy getting 18 free throws if you want to beat them.”
Parsons was not the only one to criticize Kerr. Kendrick Perkins, a former NBA player and current ESPN commentator, bashed Kerr on First Take, saying that Kerr’s recent comments have made his “damn skin crawl.”
Kerr, known for speaking his mind on league issues, seemed to be more upset with the flopping that caused the foul calls rather than the foul calls themselves. He expressed concern about how defense is being legislated out of the game, enabling players to manipulate the system and get to the foul line.
“We are enabling players to B.S. their way to the foul line,” Kerr said postgame. “If I were a fan, I wouldn’t have wanted to watch the second half of that game. It was disgusting. It was just baiting refs into calls, but the refs have to make those calls … the players are really smart in this league. For the last decade, they’ve gotten smarter and smarter. We have enabled the players, and they are taking full advantage.”
While Kerr’s complaints may have resonated with some fans who feel that the game has become too focused on free throws, others see it as sour grapes. They argue that Kerr should focus on improving his team’s defense rather than criticizing the officials.
In the end, the debate over NBA officiating will continue, with some supporting Kerr’s frustration and others dismissing it as mere complaining. Regardless, it’s clear that the issue of how fouls are called and how players exploit the rules is a topic that will be discussed throughout the season.
