Even non-Warriors followers sympathized with Steve Kerr’s staff when the officers referred to as a free ball foul on Jonathan Kuminga within the dying seconds of their NBA Cup quarterfinal towards the Rockets on Wednesday.
Traditionally, referees name a leap ball in such situations the place gamers scramble for a free ball on the ground — particularly within the theoretical closing possession of a sport.
As an alternative, referee Invoice Kennedy went towards the grain by calling a foul on Kuminga, triggering an outburst from Kerr, who referred to the call as an “unconscionable” one which “even an elementary college referee” wouldn’t have made with the sport on the road.
Kerr — part of the NBA for 4 many years as a participant, govt and coach — mentioned he had by no means seen such a name being made via all his years within the league.
“I’ve by no means seen a free ball foul on a leap ball scenario, 80 toes from the basket with the sport on the road. I’ve by no means seen that,” Kerr told reporters after Golden State’s NBA Cup ouster. “I believe noticed it in faculty one time 30 years in the past. By no means seen it within the NBA.”
To pour salt into the Warriors’ wounds, the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report (L2M) stood by the on-court referee’s name, noting that Kuminga reached over Inexperienced “in an try and get to the ball and pulls his shoulder down” whereas the 2 fought for the free ball. The L2M additionally famous that Brandin Podziemski didn’t inbound the ball inside 5 seconds after Inexperienced’s go-ahead free throws and that the Warriors ought to have been referred to as for a violation.