NBA to players: stop complaining
Sometimes it seems that complaining and the NBA go hand-in-hand. Whether it’s a foul they didn’t commit, a ball they didn’t touch on its way out of bounds, or a grimace they didn’t express,
NBA players are known to argue seemingly each and every whistle that gets blown against them. The NBA’s new message to its players: stop whining.
In efforts to cut out complaining, the NBA is extending the list of punishable behaviours for NBA players. Although players will still be able to carry on courteous discussions with referees,
anyone swinging a fist in the air, for example, will be automatically issued a technical foul. Also, unlike last year, actions do not have to be directed at an official for them to be met with a technical foul.
"We just want to have everyone take ownership of how our game looks and the image of our game, and send a message that we want player complaining to be minimized and for everyone to have
respect for the game," said Stu Jackson, executive vice president of basketball operations.
According to Jackson, NBA fans have also weighed in and the consensus among them is that NBA players simply complain too much, more so than other sports. For the NBA, it comes down to
respecting the game.
“Let’s focus on executing offence and defence, and being highly competitive, because complaining doesn’t have a part in our game and complaining has never changed a non-call to a call,
or a call to a non-call. So focus on playing the game,” said Jackson.
More specifically, Jackson mentioned a few acts that players will want to avoid this season unless they want to get hit with a technical foul. These include waving off an official, running
towards an official from across the court, waving your arms in disbelief, or even clapping sarcastically at a referee.
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