OKLAHOMA CITY — Paul George and other NBA stars have spent much of this season discussing how the relationship between players and referees has changed over the years.
George, specifically, points out a change in communication.
“I heard from back in the day that the relationship between the official and the player was a lot better, where guys were actually able to talk to one another,” George said. “Regardless of if they agreed or disagreed with a call, the player and the official could have a dialogue. It’s a little different in the NBA to where some officials — I get it, we’re on them quite a bit, but some of them don’t know how to have a conversation or have that confrontation.”
George has clarified, "All I know is pretty much the officiating in today’s game.”
The players’ union and referees have tried to mend some of the issues between players and officials. They set up a meeting at All-Star Weekend to talk it out, though only two players, Brooklyn’s Spencer Dinwiddie and Golden State’s Andre Iguodala, were present at it, according to multiple reports.
The front office has also reached out to teams on its own, sending vice president of referee training and development Monty McCutchen from locker room to locker room to discuss the league’s respect-for-the-game policy it’s further emphasizing. McCutchen met with Thunder players Monday.
When asked if that sort of communication helped, George responded, “Not really."
“I guess they’re having conversations internally with their staff, the referees, and what they can do to better the game,” he said. “And I guess trying to draw that respect between player and official. So, that’s what the meeting was.”
• Quite the change: Thunder newcomer Corey Brewer has changed teams in the middle of the season before. This year’s switch is in quite the different direction than the one last year, when Houston, one of the best teams in the NBA, traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Now, he's worked a buyout with the Lakers, which he described as a “rebuilding” team, to come to Oklahoma City, a playoff contender.
“Total 180. It’s great. It’s unbelievable,” Brewer said. “Last year was tough. We were in a good position when [I] was in Houston…Now, I come over here. We’re trying to win, do something special. To me, it’s a breath of fresh air.
• The returns: Steven Adams (sprained left ankle) returned to the starting lineup Monday against Sacramento. He did not have a minutes restriction.
Rookie wing Terrance Ferguson (concussion protocol) played against the Kings, as well. Ferguson got hurt during Thursday’s win over Phoenix and missed Saturday’s win over San Antonio.
Fred Katz is the Thunder beat writer for the Norman Transcript and CNHI Oklahoma as well as the host of the postgame show, Thunder After Dark, and the OKC Dream Team, a weekly Thunder podcast that runs every Tuesday. Follow him on Twitter: @FredKatz.