The Golden State Warriors’ Christmas Day loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers absolved Kevin Durant to some degree, conceding that he hadn’t fallen of his own volition on the game-ending play and should’ve drawn a foul call.
Durant, however, isn’t much interested in absolution, and instead of railing against the blown call, he stuck up for the league’s referees in the face of the reports that often damn them.
“The refs didn’t lose us the game. We lost that game,” he told reporters Tuesday. “I think it’s bull—- the NBA throws the refs under the bus like that.”
The reports have been the subject of some controversy from players, coaches, and officials alike, and Durant – citing hypocrisy and cherry-picking – made it clear he’d prefer the league did away with them.
“You can’t fine us for when we go out there and criticize them and then throw them under the bus for the two-minute report,” he said. “What about the first quarter, second quarter, third quarter? I think it’s bull—. They should get rid of them. Refs don’t deserve that.”
