Warriors Chris Paul Opens Up About Personal Issue with Referee Scott Foster After Ejection. Chris Paul received two technical fouls and an automatic expulsion from referee Scott Foster during a heated Phoenix Suns-Golden State Warriors game on Thursday. This incident further highlighted the strained relationship between the NBA star and the veteran official.
Warriors Chris Paul Opens Up About Personal Issue with Referee Scott Foster After Ejection. “We had a situation some years ago, and it’s personal. The league knows, everybody knows, and it’s been a meeting and all that. It’s a situation with my son, and so, yeah, I’m OK with a ref talking, saying whatever, just don’t use a tech to get your point across. I gotta do a better job making sure I stay on the floor for my teammates. But, yeah, that’s that,” Paul explained.
Foster, in a pool report, explained that Paul’s first technical was for unsportsmanlike conduct, and the second came as a result of his continuous complaints. The trigger for this exchange was a foul on Paul against Kevin Durant, leading to a confrontation between Paul and Foster as Durant took free throws.
As Durant prepared for his second free throw, Paul engaged in conversation with Foster, who, in response, signaled a technical foul. The ensuing frustration led to Paul’s second technical and ejection from the game.
Post-game, Paul opened up about the incident, admitting that there is a personal history between him and Foster dating back several years. He hinted at a past incident during his time with the Clippers, mentioning meetings involving his father, Doc Rivers, and official Bob Delaney.
While the exact details of the past incident remain undisclosed, Paul emphasized that it’s a longstanding issue and has affected his playoff performances. He referenced a losing streak in playoff games where Foster officiated, stating, “If I was a betting man – 11 games in a row.”
This ejection marks the seventh in Paul’s illustrious career, but notably the first involving Foster. The star player has been vocal about Foster’s impact on his playoff record, boasting a 2-17 win-loss ratio when Foster officiates.
Paul has no desire to disclose the initial cause about the feud. Despite the ongoing tension, Paul refrained from further comments that could lead to fines, stating, “It is what it is at this point.”
