NBA reportedly waives referee Tony Brothers for one game after calling Mavericks guardian Spencer Dinwiddie a “b—h-ass motherf—er” during Dallas’ game against the Raptors on Nov. 4.
Brothers is one of the most experienced referees in the league, having officiated since the 1994-95 season. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the NBA did not announce the decision to sit Brothers because it was not a formal suspension.
Dinwiddie discussed Brothers’ remark during the postgame press conference following the Mavericks’ 111-110 win over the Raptors. The Mavericks guard suffered a technical foul in the second quarter of the game.
After Brothers whistled the foul, Dinwiddie pleaded his case saying “it wasn’t a fucking foul”. Then, according to Dinwiddie, one of his teammates told him that the 29-year-old referee had called him a “mother’s asshole — uh.”
Dinwiddie also told reporters that he potentially used a curse word, but it was not meant disrespectfully. He wanted Brothers to make the comment to his face.
“Everybody’s a competitor there,” Dinwiddie said. “I understand it’s the heat of the moment. I definitely said swear words, but like if I was playing someone on the other team and they said that to my teammate, I’d be like listening, ‘Hey, I’m right here.’
“But because obviously [referees are in] positions of authority and so on, you can’t necessarily ask for that address, so I just take my position and say, “Hey look, if you feel like that, that’s fine with me, just let me know face, like any other adult. That’s all I want.”
Dinwiddie also said Brothers misunderstood his applause as a means of disrespect.
“I apologize to Tony Brothers for what seemed to keep him angry, which was a knock,” Dinwiddie said. “He thought it was disrespectful. If you watch games, and I know that’s what referees are supposed to do, you see me clapping to get my teammates’ attention, things of that nature, but it was nothing personal so as a man i would like to say i am sorry first of all.
“And secondarily, I would like to say, not only would I like my [fine] refunded, but I wish I wasn’t called a b—h-ass motherf —er by my teammates.
Brothers has yet to respond to the comment involving Dinwiddie. This season, Dinwiddie is averaging 17.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists for the Mavericks.
