Technical fouls (techs) are form of punishment for unsportsmanlike behavior by coaches, players, and even entire teams. It only takes two technical fouls to be ejected from a game. While techs are usually well thought through by the referees many justs seem to be ridiculous. These are a few of the funniest technical fouls in the NBA.
When a good shot is made it is common for players to celebrate by cheering, hand movements, etc… However, in a Lakers vs. Hornets game Lance Stephenson might have taken it too far according to the referee. After scoring a three point shot in a Hornets blowout, Stephenson made a hand signal resembling playing a guitar. While, to everyone else this looked like a normal celebration, the ref called a Tech on Lance. Needless to say Stephenson and Lakers fans were not happy with the call. Many calling it a disgrace and a complete overreaction to such a simple taunt.
One of the funniest reactions to a bad call from the ref was when Ben Simmons took a seat in a courtside chair after being wrongfully called for a 3-point foul. Simmons reaction may have been a little overkill but during a game where the refs just seem to hold a grudge against the sixers, he had enough. This was the third technical foul of the game following Jimmy Butler and Embiid, all players on sixers. Simmons seemed infuriated with the call and continued to play regardless of the questionable reffing during this game.
Rustle Westbrook, a former Oakland Thunder star, made one of the worst mistakes a player can make. After being frustrated with a game he tossed the ball in a seemingly random direction. Unfortunately for him that direction led to a referee straight in the head. Without a second thought the ref called a tech and Westbrook was left apologizing, ie. music to the refs ears.
When the Phoenix Suns were playing the New York Knicks a technical foul was called on Rasheed Wallace. He was call for unnecessary roughness when he pushed a kick’s arm when he was trying to score. Rasheed was frustrated by this call but went to line up when the knicks were shooting free throws. When the first shot missed Rasheed yelled his signature phrase “ball don’t lie” the ref called another tech on the Suns player for unsportsmanlike conduct. This led to his ejection from the game. While it was inevitable that he would vacated from the court he left with some words for the ref. As he left the cout he continued to argue with the ref and looked visibly upset about the calls.
In the middle of a Golden State vs. Chargers game a player lost a shoe on the court. Demarcus Cousins, the GSW center, tossed the shoe into the crowd. While his intention was to save other players from tripping on the shoe leading to injuries, the ref immediately called a technical foul. While his intentions are good “NBA law” states that not a single thing can be thrown into the crowd.
I don’t know a lot of rules in basketball, but I found your article to be really interesting because it expanded my own understanding of fouls in the game. I couldn’t believe it only takes two technical fouls to be ejected from the game, but it makes sense as they are professionals and should be at the top of their game. It also seems that some of these callings are hypocritical and not perfectly sound. Maybe potential reform is needed?
I strongly agree with you. I have watched less and less NBA games recently because technical fouls are just getting too dumb and too often. There’s no reason to give someone a technical foul just because he is passing the ball back to the ref (too hard), like how Westbrook and Tatum did.
I always hate seeing some of the techs that refs give the players because it is more fun to see the guys just play the game sometimes without the unnecessary interference of the refs. I do agree that some of them can be funny though. When I played basketball in high school I personally never had a tech called on me but one of my very good friends did. She got it called on her because a girl that was guarding her was being overly aggressive and pushy, so finally the ref gave that girl a foul for pushing, to which my friend blew that player a kiss. The ref did not like this though and gave her a tech for “unsportsman like conduct. “