NBA ref’s 3-word explicit message to 76ers head coach after player was mistakenly ejected from game
NBA referee Jenna Schroeder found herself in a bizarre situation during the Philadelphia 76ers’ game against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night. Early in the second quarter, 76ers center Andre Drummond was ejected for a foul on Spurs star Victor Wembanyama. However, a video replay of the incident led referees to overturn the ejection and call Drummond back into the game, despite him already walking off the floor.
Schroeder was heard admitting to 76ers head coach Nick Nurse, “I f—ed up.” Drummond was allowed back into the game after the review. Instead of Drummond receiving the technical foul, Wembanyama was hit with a technical foul for flopping. Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey shot the technical free throw, but officials later rescinded the technical foul and took away the point.
Crew chief Curtis Blair explained that the review showed Drummond had merely stepped on Wembanyama’s foot, and the contact was ruled incidental.
The 7-foot Spurs’ player, Wembanyama, stated that there shouldn’t have been a foul called on the play. “Just stepped on my foot and I fell,” he said. “That’s it. I just got tripped. I didn’t mean to fall. I didn’t expect the foul to be called. I just fell.”
Nurse also commented on the incident, calling the whole situation “really strange.”
The game saw another ejection, as Sixers star Joel Embiid was tossed after receiving two unsportsmanlike conduct technical fouls. He was seen rushing towards Schroeder at one point and had to be held back. Despite this, Embiid did not speak to the media after the game.
In the end, Philadelphia emerged victorious over San Antonio with a score of 111-106.
The incident added an extra layer of drama to an already intense game between the two teams. The unexpected turn of events kept fans and players alike on their toes throughout the matchup.
