Tony Brothers, a longtime NBA referee who has worked more than 1,700 games, was reportedly sidelined by one of them for using foul language toward a Dallas Mavericks player.
Spencer Dinwiddie accused Brothers earlier this month of calling him “bada– motherf——” in the second quarter after he was charged with a technical. The guard spoke about the incident after the game against the Toronto Raptors.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Dallas Mavericks guard Spencer Dinwiddie, #26, shoots as Jordan Poole, second from right, and Golden State Warriors’ Kevon Looney defend in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas , on Tuesday, November 29, 2022. .
(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
“I’m not even mad at the language,” Dinwiddie said, via ESPN. “Everyone has said things before when they’re upset or sensitive or hurt. That’s okay. Just say it to my face.”
NBA journalist Marc Stein reported Tuesday that Brothers was forced off the court during a game over the incident. The league reportedly never announced it because it wasn’t official and the Brothers didn’t lose a paycheck.
NBA referee Tony Brothers reacts during the New Orleans Pelicans versus the Phoenix Suns during game two of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at the Footprint Center in Phoenix on April 19, 2022.
(Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
TIMBERWOLVES’ KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS WILL MISS AT LEAST 4 WEEKS WITH CALF DISTINCTION: REPORT
Dinwiddie told The Athletic that two weeks after the November 4 incident, the NBA reached out to him.
“I told them what happened. I was very clear with that part. After that, they do what they do, I don’t know, ”he told the outlet.
Dallas Mavericks’ Spencer Dinwiddie, right, beats Milwaukee Bucks’ Grayson Allen during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Milwaukee.
(AP Photo/Morry Gash)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Brothers has been in the NBA for 28 seasons. He has officiated 1,626 regular season games and 174 playoff games.
Fox News’ Joe Morgan contributed to this report.