The NBA did not appreciate the comments Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle made after his team lost to the New York Knicks on Wednesday night, and neither did Josh Hart.
Carlisle was fined $35,000 by the NBA on Friday for what he said about the officiating crew following Indiana’s 130-121 loss to the Knicks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals series between the two teams. Carlisle said “small-market teams deserve an equal shot” no matter which venue they are playing in, which was his way of saying the Knicks received preferential treatment from the referees. You can listen to Carlisle’s full remarks here.
Hart, who previously played for the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers, was asked by a reporter on Friday if he felt the NBA was trying to hold his teams down when he played in smaller markets. He called the suggestion “idiotic.”
“F— no. That’s so stupid, bro,” Hart said. “They say the big market always wins? The Knicks ain’t won a (championship) in 51 years, so obviously that don’t really hold much weight. … I think that’s just idiotic. At the end of the day, it’s who’s playing the best. I’ve never seen a ref shoot a free throw or make a three or miss a rotation, you know what I mean?”
Josh Hart on idea NBA bringing down small markets as implied by Carlisle pic.twitter.com/6x0IZxfv88
— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) May 10, 2024
Hart also called it “pretty disrespectful” that Carlisle suggested Hart tried to target Tyrese Haliburton’s injured back when Hart shoved the Pacers star from behind in Game 2.
Josh Hart calls Rick Carlisle’s comments “pretty disrespectful to us.” pic.twitter.com/2yBHPZeoOJ
— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) May 10, 2024
Carlisle was angry with the officiating in both Game 1 and Game 2. He was ejected from Game 2 after a double-dribble call went against the Knicks late in the fourth quarter but and was overturned (video here).
The Pacers are in a 2-0 hole and will host Game 3 in Indiana on Friday night.
