Marcus Smart fined $15,000 For Criticizing Officiating

A $15,000 fine has been placed on Boston Celtics guard, Marcus Smart, after the player criticized the officiating of his team’s last game publicly.

Celtics lost by 119 to 112 to Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, but the player was furious about the officiating as he felt the Bucks and especially MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo were given preferential treatments by the referee.

The fine was announced by the Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Kiki VanDeWeghe on Saturday.

According to Smart, Giannis Antetokounmpo should have been off the game in the last minutes of the fourth quarter of the game.

“Giannis had six fouls and they didn’t want to get him out, Let’s call a spade a spade. That’s what it is. Quite frankly, I think we all knew what that was about,” Smart was quoted in the post-game conference.

Meanwhile, in a statement released by the league, the officials were vindicated in their calls.

“Smart was not established in a legal guarding position at the time of Antetokounmpo’s gather on the driving shot attempt,” read the league’s explanation.

In other news, Miami Heat’s Myers Leonard has reaffirmed his support for the Black Lives Matter movement after standing during the national anthem rendition before the start of their 125 to 105 win against Denver Nuggets.

“I absolutely believe Black Lives Matter. Some of the conversations I’ve had over the past three days, quite literally, have been the most difficult,” Leonard was quoted on the NBA’s website.

Matches continue in the NBA this week as Miami Heat face Toronto Raptors on Monday evening, Washington Wizards and Indiana Pacers.

Oklahoma Thunder and Denver Nuggets will also face off while New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies will play on Monday evening.

Early Tuesday will Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers, while Philadelphia 76ers will play San Antonio Spurs.

Written by: Daniel Ademiju Idowu