The Phoenix Suns defeated the Atlanta Hawks 121-117 on Saturday.
Interestingly enough, the end result of the outing isn’t what everyone was left talking about after the fact. Rather, it was the behavior of one specific official.
With just over three minutes left in the fourth and Atlanta up by two, Hawks star Trae Young was hit with a technical foul.
Afterward, referee Kevin Scott could quite clearly be seen mocking someone in the direction of the Hawks’ bench.
Let me know what y’all think. Watch until the end…
CP fouls Dre 4 times in one possession, Trae gets a tech for sticking up for his teammate and complaining about the no call.
After FT, ref appears to look at Hawks bench and mock them with “cry baby” motion pic.twitter.com/pqz2fM2RNa
— Grant Shirley (@Grant_Shirley4) November 7, 2021
Referee Kevin Scott making crybaby eyes to someone in the direction of the Hawks’ bench. I’m howling.
(h/t @Grant_Shirley4) pic.twitter.com/nsfFscDMQi
— Kevin Chouinard (@KLChouinard) November 7, 2021
Phoenix would go on to win the close game.
After the fact, many fans were irate about what they saw from Scott.
Refs shouldn’t be doing shit like dis https://t.co/qTBkL0i9ZB
— Symore Butts (@whotf_isbrandon) November 7, 2021
more ref taunting >>> https://t.co/JgIe7Raqy7
— $heff Axelrod Knicks (6-3) (@sh3ffb) November 7, 2021
Disgusting @NBA @NBAOfficial @NBATV @NBAPR @NBAHistory @TheAthleticNBA https://t.co/koL3pEw4SI
— D’Matt (@BackEndDeluxe) November 7, 2021
This referee should be suspended. Utterly professional. https://t.co/bD3cRqchyY
— Steve. Mediator, arbitrator, husband, dad. (@StevenPGregory1) November 7, 2021
Young also reacted on social media after the fact:
… Hmm Interesting.
I get fined though #WhyIsItPersonal https://t.co/sfwxeswiuu
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) November 7, 2021
For obvious reasons, many have called on the NBA to fire Scott for his actions. The integrity of the game is dictated by the officials, and when one blatantly acts out against a squad like this, it’s hard not to view all his decision-making as being somewhat biased.
Last year the NBA’s refereeing came under scrutiny after one player literally broke another’s bone with no ramifications. Although this incident is less egregious, it’s cut from the same cloth. The league needs to get its officiating teams in order, because if they don’t, it’ll do irreparable damage to the NBA’s reputation.
Now that’s a Halloween costume. https://t.co/xDN5ukIuKB
— Game 7 (@game7__) October 30, 2021
Related: Henry Ruggs Repeatedly Mocked Reckless Driving Before Fatal Crash
A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
