The NBA fined New Orleans Pelicans govt vice chairman of basketball operations David Griffin $50,000 on Sunday “for public criticism of the officiating and feedback detrimental to the NBA.”
On Friday, Griffin stated Zion Williamson‘s fractured left ring finger, which can preserve him out indefinitely, was “avoidable” if the NBA did a greater job officiating his franchise famous person.
Griffin did not specify when the harm occurred however stated he believes the harm was possible the results of an accumulation of hits. Griffin stated he was “pissed off as a result of this was avoidable.”
“We advised the NBA by way of each means obtainable to us, by way of sending in movie, by way of chatting with everyone within the officers division and everyone in basketball operations, that the way in which they have been officiating Zion was going to get him injured,” Griffin stated. “And fairly frankly, he is injured due to the open season that there is been on Zion Williamson within the paint.
“He has been completely mauled within the paint regularly to the purpose that different gamers have stated to him, ‘I’ll preserve doing this to you as a result of they do not name it.’ There may be extra violence inspired within the paint than any participant I’ve seen since [Shaquille O’Neal]. It was egregious and horrific then, and the identical is true now.”
The Pelicans are two video games again of the San Antonio Spurs for the final play-in spot within the Western Convention. Williamson, 20, is averaging 27 factors, 7.2 rebounds and three.7 assists per sport this season.
ESPN’s Andrew Lopez contributed to this report.