NBA players union disapproves of new policy on technical fouls
With NBA officials handing out technical fouls at a record pace so far this year, the NBA players union offered their take on the issue in a strongly-worded statement released Thursday.
Their general message to the league was that the new stricter policy on technical fouls "may actually harm our product."
"The new unilateral rule changes are an unnecessary and unwarranted overreaction on the league's behalf," NBPA director Billy Hunter said. "We have not seen any increase in the level of
'complaining' to the officials and we believe that players as a whole have demonstrated appropriate behavior toward the officials.”
Moreover, Hunter said that league officials never consulted with the players union before making the change.
"Worse yet, to the extent the harsher treatment from the referees leads to a stifling of the players' passion and exuberance for their work, we fear these changes may actually harm our
product. The changes were made without proper consultation with the players association, and we intend to file an appropriate legal challenge," he said.
Before the start of training camp this year, the league sent updated instructions to NBA referees, informing them to be extra vigilant against player complaints during the game. More specifically,
technical fouls should be called on any player who made demonstrative gestures, who continued complaining after being told to stop, and who approached officials in an aggressive manner. Assistant coaches were also told to stay in their seats during games or
risk getting called for a technical foul.
So far this year, there have been 69 technical fouls called in 59 pre-season games. At the same time last season, 51 technical fouls had been called in 62 games.
During Wednesday night’s game between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks, three technical fouls were called on the Celtics in a matter of seconds. Kevin Garnett was issued two
technical fouls in quick succession, leading to an ejection, after questioning a technical foul issued to his team-mate Jermaine O’Neal moments earlier. If the Celtics continue picking up technical fouls at this pace, they would set an NBA record with 148
on the season. After the game, numerous Celtics players criticized the new policy.
"The [referees and league officials] are going to have to take a second look and see how it affects the game, how it affects the stars,” Paul Pierce said after the game. “People pay good
money to come out and see the stars play. Even though we've got to play by the rules, there has to be some leniency. When a guy turns and looks at you, maybe it doesn't cost you a game.”
After the game, Boston coach Doc Rivers said he hoped the officials would adjust to the new instructions in time for the regular season, beginning in just under two weeks.
"I think it'll come to it eventually not being a knee-jerk thing. I think officials will have a better feel on it," he said. "We're going to figure it out, it's just gonna take some time.
When you talk to the officials, they don't get it yet. They're trying to figure it out, and it'll get figured out by game one."
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