James Harden and NBA referee Scott Foster do not get along. The difference between the two is that Foster is in charge of the games he officiates, and Harden will only see larger fines if he continues to criticize him in the press.
The Houston Rockets star was fined $25,000 after Harden criticized official Scott Foster after a brutal loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night. The Rockets blew a lead, and afterward, Harden blew his temper in insisting Foster had something against he and his teammates.
The NBA announced the fine that resulted from those comments on Saturday.
Houston guard James Harden has been fined $25,000 for public criticism of an official.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 23, 2019
It’s certainly not a surprise that Harden was fined for publicly criticizing an official. They are all but automatic at this point for calling out an official, whether by name or just critiquing the profession in general.
But Harden’s fine is yet another plot point in the ongoing battle between players and the people in pinstripes who govern the games they play. Some NBA stars like their money too much or simply know better than to say something publicly, but this is part of a larger issue between officials and players.
It’s clear that many players are still unhappy with the way their games are governed, and for Harden, it’s worth the hit to his wallet to make his opinions on the matter known.
