After the Atlanta Hawks' 114-108 loss to the Orlando Magic, Trae Young voiced strong frustration over what he felt was one-sided officiating.
The Atlanta Hawks returned from the All-Star break with a crucial matchup against the Orlando Magic, but frustrations with officiating overshadowed their 114-108 loss.
Paolo Banchero
| Team: |
Orlando Magic |
| Position: | PF |
| Age: | 22 |
| Height: | 208 cm |
| Weight: | 113 kg |
| Birth place: | Seattle, United States of America |
Trae Young, who received one of the team’s three technical fouls, didn’t hold back when addressing the refs after the game, per Kevin Chouinard.
Young accused certain officials of making the game personal, claiming, "Some refs take sh*t personally." He pointed out that Orlando, known for its physicality, shot 10 more free throws than Atlanta, raising concerns about fairness.
"It’s frustrating. I know a few of those refs have been known for throwing people out throughout the year. I even asked the ref if she liked throwing people out, and she said "That's what makes her a good ref." It’s sh*t like that," Young said.
The All-Star guard, who received a technical foul during the game, believes some referees let personal feelings influence their calls.
"It’s personal for some of these refs," Young added. "Some stuff the fans don’t even get to hear, but you can see it in their calls and their actions. You just wish that you can get some refs that just don’t take sh*t personally and understand that people grow."
"I’m not 19 anymore, I can communicate with these people. And I have with a lot of the refs, and they’ve been responsive for the most part. Then you get a handful tonight that take s— personal, and you can see it by the way they make their calls," he continued.
Despite Young’s criticism, officiating wasn’t the sole reason for Atlanta’s loss. The Hawks struggled in the second half, allowing Orlando to take control and secure the win.
As the team fights for playoff positioning, Young and the Hawks will have to refocus and find ways to close out tight games, regardless of the calls.
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