Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul was critical of referee Lauren Holtkamp after his team received five technical fouls in a 105-94 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night.
Paul was assessed a technical foul early in the third quarter – one of three for the Clippers in a 52-second span – after inbounding the ball hurriedly and questioning Holtkamp when the first-year NBA referee intervened.
“The tech I got was ridiculous,” Paul said. “That’s terrible. There’s no way that can be a technical. We try to get the ball out fast every time down the court. When we did that, she said, ‘Uh-uh.’ I said, ‘Why uh-uh?’ and she gave me a technical. That’s ridiculous.
“If that’s the case, this might not be for her.”
Paul likely faces discipline from the league, which typically takes a hard line on player criticism of officiating.
Holtkamp, 34, became the third full-time female referee in NBA history when she was promoted from the NBA Developmental League in September. The former Division II player had previously refereed WNBA, college and FIBA games.
While Paul’s comments have prompted accusations of sexism, ESPNLosAngeles.com columnist Ramona Shelburne reported that Paul’s criticism was in reference to Holtkamp’s inexperience at the NBA level.
“I’m hearing that [Paul] meant the ref in question was a rookie referee,” Shelburne tweeted.
Lee Seham, general counsel of the union representing NBA referees, defended Holtkamp in a statement Friday, saying his organization has reviewed the calls and “deems them fully justified.”
“The NBRA deplores the personal and unprofessional comments made by Chris Paul,” Seham said. “She belongs.”
Paul, who is president of the National Basketball Players Association, is averaging 17.6 points and 9.5 assists for the second-place Clippers. He will make his eighth consecutive All-Star appearance next week in New York.
