Russell Westbrook: 'Don't appreciate' being officiated differently
— -- After picking up back-to-back technical fouls to earn an ejection midway through the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies, Russell Westbrook voiced frustration about being officiated differently from other players.
"Honestly, I don't know, man. Honestly, it's crazy to be ejected like that, especially when I didn't do nothing," Westbrook told reporters following the Oklahoma City Thunder's 114-80 loss. "It's just crazy, man. Especially for me, because I feel like I don't get the benefit of the doubt most of the time, especially throughout the game with refs.
"I get so many techs just for talking," Westbrook said. "I can't even say nothing when I'm getting hammered every time I go to the damn basket throughout the games and previous games. Not tonight, but every night. I just don't get reffed the same way as other people, and I don't appreciate it."
Westbrook finished with 21 points, 5 rebounds, no assists, and 6 turnovers in just 23 minutes against the Grizzlies. His argument Thursday was about what he felt was an incorrect shot-clock reset on an airball. While JaMychal Green took free throws, Westbrook persisted with officials, appearing to repeat "that's bulls---" over and over. Eventually, official Brian Forte hit Westbrook with the tech, and then the subsequent tech seconds after.
After the game, referee Jason Phillips explained that officials "had no doubt" that the ball hit the rim despite Westbrook's objections.
"As we line up for the free throws, Russell continues to complain that the ball did not hit the rim. He was adamant about that. At that point it's not a reviewable matter, so it's not something we can look at replay on, but we explained to him -- Brian Forte explained to him: 'We're good, we've got to let it go, we can't go review it anyway, but I hear what you're saying. We've got to move on.' He continues to complain about it, so then he is issued the first technical foul.
"After being issued the first technical foul, he continues to complain about the ball not hitting the rim and then even proceeds to use some profanity during the conversation also. So at that point he's issued the second technical foul, which results in an automatic ejection."
Following the Thunder's game against the Atlanta Hawks on Dec. 19, Thunder coach Billy Donovan complained about the way Westbrook was being officiated.
"I don't know if there's a player that's quicker, faster, more explosive, and plays in the lane more than he does," Donovan said. "And I do think that he's a guy, in my mind, that could go to the free throw line, seriously, 20 times a game. That would be very easy with the amount of contact he takes going to the rim, and he got there 13 times, I think, tonight, and that maybe seems like a lot. ... But I've always been a big believer that when he's going and he's getting hit, fouls should be called, in my opinion."
The NBA admitted the following day that officials missed two critical late calls in that game, both of which should've sent Westbrook to the line to give OKC a chance to win.
Donovan reiterated those feelings Thursday, saying Westbrook should average 20 free throws a game.
"I do think when you're getting hit as much as he's getting hit and you have to deal with that and not have fouls called, and you see other things with other guards and plays not being called that he would never even get because he's fast, quick and explosive -- I think after a while, that stuff builds up," Donovan said.
A year ago to the day, Westbrook said last season he was "done" getting technicals after "learning" the officials don't ever change their call.
"I'm done with those days," he said. "I learned in the summertime, once they make a call, they ain't changing it. Took me a while, but I learned it.
"I watched film. I watched all my techs and all the dumb s--- I was doing, so I decided to tell myself, there's no need to argue," Westbrook said. "They're not changing it, so move on."
During the 2014-15 season, Westbrook led the league with 17 technical fouls. He reduced that number to just seven, with most of them coming from confrontations with other players. This season, Westbrook is already at 10, which leads the league. Sixteen technicals triggers and automatic one-game suspension.
Even with what was for him a relatively low statline Thursday against the Grizzlies, Westbrook is still averaging a triple-double for the season with 31.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 10.6 assists per game.
