After the Sacramento Kings’ 116-110 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, DeMar DeRozan loudly criticized game officials, earning him a $25,000 NBA penalty.  

The Incident

After the game, DeRozan expressed his frustration with the officiating, stating, “The refs were terrible. Terrible as [expletive]. Simple as that.”

The Nuggets attempted 13 free throws in the fourth quarter while the Kings only attempted four, and his remarks were mostly focused on the difference.

NBA’s Response

To preserve the integrity of the game, the NBA has a strong policy forbidding public criticism of officials.

DeRozan was fined $25,000 on Friday, March 7, 2025, for remarks that were considered to be in breach of these guidelines.

Impact on the Kings

The Kings’ four-game winning streak ended with the defeat against the Nuggets. DeRozan, who averages 22.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.0 steals per game this season, has been a key member of Sacramento despite the setback.

In their next games, especially a Friday, March 7 game against the San Antonio Spurs, the team will try to bounce back.

Looking Ahead

The NBA is committed to maintaining respect for its referees, and this is shown in the frequent fines for criticizing officials.

Remaining composed on and off the court will be essential to the Kings’ success as they try to get back on track.