Rockets star James Harden has been fined $25,000 for his public comments on the officiating in Houston’s Thursday night loss to the Lakers, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Harden had a lot to say about official Scott Foster after fouling out in the final minutes of the game along with running mate Chris Paul. In his rant, Harden even called Foster “rude and arrogant”.
“I mean, you aren’t able to talk to (Foster) throughout the game,” Harden said. “It’s not even that call. It’s who he is on that floor. It’s pretty frustrating. You can’t have a conversation. You get a tech.”
Harden went on to even suggest Foster shouldn’t be able to officiate Rockets games anymore.
“Last year in the post-season, in the Western Conference Finals, I think he officiated a couple of our games,” Harden said. “It’s lingering. It has to be looked at. For sure, it’s personal.”
Paul, although less vocal, was displeased with Foster as well.
“I don’t know what else to do,” Paul said on his rocky relationship with Foster. “I’ve met with the league with him. I don’t know what else to do.”
It will be interesting to see if the league also fines Paul for his comments as it wouldn’t be the first time he spoke out on Foster.
