(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle publicly shared his opinion about the referees for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals and now it will cost him.
According to Trevor Lane, the NBA fined Carlisle $35,000 for his comments about game officials the other night.
Following his team’s loss in Game 2, Carlisle told the press that “small market teams deserve a shot.”
The league thought that implied that refs and the league favored big-market teams like the New York Knicks and they responded with this fine.
Rick Carlisle has been fined $35k for his comments about the officials, which included him saying “small market teams deserve a fair shot”, implying that the league is favoring the big market Knicks pic.twitter.com/2xrfspWXH2
— Trevor Lane (@Trevor_Lane) May 10, 2024
Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Joe Dumars said that Carlisle was being fined for his “public criticism of the officiating and questioning the integrity of the league and its officials.”
Even though he will have to pay $35,000, this might not be the last time that Carlisle speaks his mind.
He believes that teams like the Knicks and others in major markets are receiving preferential treatment from the league because they are better for ratings and receive more attention.
Many people have pushed back against that claim, including Knicks star Josh Hart.
On Friday morning, Hart told ESPN, “I think it’s pretty disrespectful to us. Because at the end of the day, we’re out there playing and competing at a high level.”
Others have pointed out that two of the most exciting and successful teams in the league right now, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder, hail from smaller markets but are doing very well.
Carlisle is obviously very frustrated with the current series and wants more success for his team.
He is free to believe what he wants but if he keeps expressing his thoughts, he is going to be paying a lot.
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