Indiana Pacers forward Paul George expressed his frustration to NBA officials after losing the game against Chicago Bulls. But his ‘little brother’ remark is excessive, so the league fined him $15K.
George lamented the lack of foul call for his team and saying that NBA treated Indiana Pacers like the 'little brother of the league', CBS Sports reported. The Pacers is in the losing streak after three straight losses in the away games. George said they got no foul call because Pacers is just a small-market team and things will be different if he played for team with a bigger market.
Aligned to George’s comment, Indiana Pacers head coach Nate McMillan also stated the fact that the team only received 10 free-throws for the entire game, and George was only given one free throw. Coach McMillan said that the game was the second one where George has been held and grabbed by the Bulls players.
He compared George’s one free throw to Jimmy Butler who shot 12 from the line. He said that should call the game both ways for Bulls and Pacers.
The 6’9” small forward said that he had been experiencing this treatment since his joining the NBA. He claimed that if he wears different jersey, the referee definitely will make the foul calls he should get. It is because the league has favorite teams. It is because when he asked the referee about the missed-call, they know that they missed the call and apologize, but it continues over and over.
“Maybe the league has teams they like so they can give them the benefit of the doubt,” George said. “We're the little brother of the league. We're definitely the little brother of the league."
Following his remark, the NBA fined him $15,000 as reported by FOX Sports. While coach McMilland was fined $10,000.
Watch the highlight of the game between Pacers and the Bulls on Dec. 26 below: