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FILE– Head coach Darko Rajakovic of the Toronto Raptors. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images/AFP
Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Thursday for publicly criticizing game officiating, the league announced.
The 44-year-old Serbian made his critical comments to reporters following Toronto’s 132-131 loss to the host Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.
Rajakovic’s table-pounding tirade came over his club getting only two free throw attempts in the fourth quarter against LeBron James and his teammates.
“It’s outrageous,” Rajakovic said. “This is shame. Shame for the referees. Shame for the league to allow this — 23 free throws for them and we get two free throws in the fourth quarter.
“I understand respect for All-Stars and all that, but we have star players on our team as well.”
Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Thursday, two days after he ranted about officiating following his team’s 132-131 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. https://t.co/EhUnIJAFS1 pic.twitter.com/Nafx8zOgCf
— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) January 11, 2024
He was unhappy that repeated drives to the hoop brought Scottie Barnes only two free throws.
“How is that possible? How are you going to explain that to me?” said Rajakovic.
“They had to win tonight? If that’s the case, just let us know, so we don’t show up for the game. Just give them a win. But that was not fair tonight. And this is not happening first time for us.”
The Raptors are 15-23 and rank 12th among 15 teams in the Eastern Conference.