Following the frustrating defeat to the Denver Nuggets on March 5, the Sacramento Kings’ DeMar DeRozan went all in, calling out the referees in his postgame comments. But the NBA didn’t take that lying down.
DeRozan didn’t hold back and had some words for the officials after the game. But things didn’t end well for him and the league took notice. And now? DeRozan is $25,000 lighter in the wallet.
DeMar DeRozan Goes Off as Kings Fall Short Against Denver
After the game on March 5, DeRozan made it clear: “The refs were terrible; terrible as. It’s as simple as that.” He felt the calls weren’t going Sacramento’s way. And you know the frustration is real when a veteran like DeRozan lets loose on the refs like that as he is typically composed.
The Kings tried to get the upper hand, but couldn’t get past the Nuggets. moving to 32-29 while Denver improved to 40-22.
DeRozan did everything he could to keep Sacramento in it. He was a walking bucket all night, dropping 35 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Jonas Valančiūnas added 19 points and 13 rebounds, holding his own inside, while Zach LaVine put up 20 points and six assists, providing key scoring on the wing.
Despite the solid stat lines, the Kings weren’t able to seal the deal. And for DeRozan? The officiating didn’t help either.
NBA Drops the Hammer on DeRozan With a $25K Fine
To make things worse, the league didn’t take his comments lightly. It didn’t take long for the NBA to respond. This isn’t the first time a star has been fined for calling out the refs. The NBA protects its officials, and anytime a player crosses the line, their bank account takes a hit.
DeRozan’s comments were blunt, emotional, and 100% going to cost him some cash. The league has a strict policy against public criticism of officiating, and they made sure to remind him of that with a $25,000 fine.
NBA announces a $25,000 fine for Kings forward DeMar DeRozan: pic.twitter.com/pQ0eOTfmuG
— James Ham (@James_HamNBA) March 7, 2025
But for DeRozan? It was worth it. The Kings are in the middle of a tight playoff race, and every game matters. When questionable officiating impacts the outcome, emotions are bound to spill over. And with Sacramento trying to avoid the Play-In Tournament, DeRozan let his frustration boil over.
The fallout might have even played a role in the Kings’ response in their next game. With a decisive win over the San Antonio Spurs at the Golden 1 Center, it looks like they’re getting back in rhythm.
Can DeRozan and the Kings bounce back and get on a winning streak? Or will this controversial loss leave a lasting impact on their postseason push?