Kings center Richaun Holmes was not happy about being fined $25,000 after he was ejected for throwing the ball into the crowd during Saturday’s loss to the Jazz in Utah.
Holmes was docked for “forcefully throwing the game ball into the spectator stands” at the end of the third quarter of the Kings’ 134-125 loss at Utah, according to a statement by the NBA on Monday.
According to a pool report, crew chief James Capers said Holmes was ejected because he “recklessly fired the ball the length of the floor and it went into the crowd by force.”
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When asked a follow-up question about how the referees determined the difference between firing the ball into the crowd and a “legitimate shot attempt,” Capers responded: “It’s the way the ball went into the stands.”
Holmes had this response to Capers’ explanation:
Kings coach Alvin Gentry blamed Holmes’ actions on frustration with the referees and said after the game that Holmes was “very apologetic in the locker room.” Gentry said Holmes thought he had been fouled on the other end before being whistled for a foul on defense.
“It was just frustration,” Gentry said. “It’s a guy feeling like things weren’t even and it’s frustrating right now by everybody. I don’t think that’s a big deal.”
But Holmes continued to express displeasure on social media on Monday, tweeting, “Man WHAT???????,” followed by a GIF of former Kings star DeMarcus Cousins doing a postgame interview where he let loose on the referees.
Holmes, in his third year with the Kings and seventh NBA season, is averaging 10.7 points and 7.3 rebounds in 43 games this year.
Holmes and the Kings are going through a rough stretch, entering Monday’s game against the Bulls having lost four straight and nine of 11 overall.
