Russell Westbrook after getting ejected: ‘I just don’t get ref’d the same way as other people’

Russell Westbrook is frustrated with the way he is being officiated, voicing those feelings after Thursday’s game where he was ejected in the third quarter after picking up two quick technical fouls.

”Honestly, I don’t know, man,” Westbrook told reporters. “Honestly, it’s crazy to be ejected like that, especially when I didn’t do nothing. It’s just crazy, man. Especially for me, because I feel like I don’t get the benefit of the doubt most of the time, especially throughout the game with refs.”

The two technicals were Westbrook’s ninth and 10th of the season, just 33 games into the year.

Westbrook continued: “I get so many techs just for talking. I can’t even say nothing when I’m getting hammered every time I go to the damn basket throughout the games and previous games. Not tonight, but every night. I just don’t get ref’d the same way as other people, and I don’t appreciate it.”

The technicals came with Westbrook arguing that a missed shot didn’t hit the rim and thus the shot clock shouldn’t have reset. He continued as the Grizzlies’ JaMychal Green shot free throws, reportedly repeating “that’s bullshit” to the referees, per ESPN.

After the game, official Jason Phillips defended the technicals.

“We explained to him — Brian Forte explained to him: ‘We’re good, we’ve got to let it go, we can’t go review it anyway, but I hear what you’re saying. We’ve got to move on.’ He continues to complain about it, so then he is issued the first technical foul.

“After being issued the first technical foul, he continues to complain about the ball not hitting the rim and then even proceeds to use some profanity during the conversation, also. So at that point, he’s issued the second technical foul, which results in an automatic ejection.”

Thunder coach Billy Donovan said he wasn’t sure Westbrook “warranted” being thrown out of the game.

“And I do think that he’s a guy, in my mind, that could go to the free-throw line, seriously, 20 times a game,” Donovan told reporters. “That would be very easy with the amount of contact he takes going to the rim, and he got there 13 times, I think, tonight, and that maybe seems like a lot. But I’ve always been a big believer that when he’s going and he’s getting hit, fouls should be called, in my opinion.”

This is the second time this week players have alleged they’re treated differently by officials, with Paul George and Myles Turner complaining on Monday. Kevin Durant also had a valid criticism of referees on Christmas, but followed it up by saying the league’s transparency-driven two minute reports are “bullshit” because they unnecessarily call out referees.

Westbrook finished the game with 21 points, five rebounds, and zero assists as he exited halfway through the third quarter. If he misses averaging a triple-double by a small margin — something he’s still doing — this game from Thursday will stand out. More importantly, the Thunder lost 114-80 to the Grizzlies, a game which could affect the playoff seeding later on.