Damian Lillard is not happy with how NBA officials are approaching the games this season. The Trail Blazers’ superstar called out the NBA refs after shooting just one free throw during his team’s loss to the Clippers Tuesday.
Lillard is averaging 3.2 free throw attempts a game for the season, four fewer a night than the 7.2 a game he shot last season. Despite that, Lillard scored 27 last night, but it was not enough for Portland.
(via NBC Sports Northwest):
“I feel like the way the game is being officiated is unacceptable,” Lillard said. “I don’t want to go too deep into it so they make a big deal out of it, but the explanations, the s*** that’s getting missed, I mean, come on.
I felt like coming in, the rule change wouldn’t affect me because I don’t do the trick the referees, I don’t do the trick plays, and t’s just unacceptable.
Then the explanations and the remarks in return when you tell them is just like [Lillard shrugs]. I don’t even have nothin’ else to say about it.”
This season, the NBA directed its referees to stop calling fouls on non-basketball-related moves; however, Lillard is also struggling with his shot, shooting 25.5 percent on 3-pointers this season.
