Kevin Durant is once again wrapped up in the this season's ongoing deterioration of relationship between NBA players and officials. Durant was fined $15,000 by the league following his public criticism of NBA referees, according to ESPN.
The comments occurred this past Tuesday following the Golden State Warriors 123-112 victory over the New York Knicks. Durant would end up being ejected from the game after receiving his second technical foul in the final three minutes. After the game, KD came at official James Williams and accused him of targeting him in the second half due to an argument they both had earlier in the game. However, Durant seemed to have a change of heart. The next day at practice, he agreed he was being an "asshole" and deserved the punishment the league was going to dish out on him.
"I looked at the plays, a couple techs, and I was being an asshole last night. I was being a jerk," Durant told ESPN. "That one foul at the end wasn't a foul. I shouldn't have slammed the ball down like I did. I can go back and say that I was being a jerk last night, and I deserve whatever the league is going to throw at me."
The NBA refs accepted Durant's apology and pointed out that this is the type of mutual respect they are trying to reach with the planned meeting between the National Basketball Players Association and referee's union during NBA All Star Weekend in Los Angeles next month.
The rift between the players and refs has definitely been a problem throughout the season and looked to be close to its boiling point numerous times. Durant is not the only superstar who has had run-ins with the refs either. LeBron James, Draymond Green, and Chris Paul are just a few other names who have had some not so nice words for their counterparts.
Durant has already been ejected 4 times this season, a surprising fact considering his usual quiet demeanor in the past. Clearly, his time in Golden State has him embracing the villain role a little bit. Sheed would be be proud.
