Hard to blame Kelly Oubre Jr. for going off like this, because frankly, NBA officials are pretty awful. Officiating in major American sports is a problem in and of itself, and I don’t put it all on the people carrying the whistles. That’s a whole other can of worms we don’t need to open right now.
The end sequence to the 76ers’ loss to the Clippers in Philadelphia is pretty self-explanatory. Oubre took the ball to the rack twice, got hacked twice, and not a single foul was called. He would’ve gotten to shoot a couple free throws. Maybe it goes to overtime at worse. In any event, Oubre was pissed and it was more hilarious than anything else.
Kelly Oubre congratulates each ref after not getting a call on his final 2 shotspic.twitter.com/I0SSqeyIab
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) March 28, 2024
Kelly Oubre did what ever athlete has ever wanted to do last night 💀 pic.twitter.com/eYH35PTnYJ
— Mikey O’ver (@MikeyOver1) March 28, 2024
Tyrese Maxey realizing what a lunatic Kelly Oubre is and not being able to control his smile/laugh makes this even better https://t.co/8gGMsMI5x7 pic.twitter.com/xgH8mI7iwU
— Sean Barnard (@Sean_Barnard1) March 28, 2024
Missed this last night somehow lol
Kelly Oubre Jr. is a true Philadelphianpic.twitter.com/Oc2HC5fYVf
— Josh Reynolds (@JoshReynolds24) March 28, 2024
The referees themselves admitted they blew it!
Refs admit what we all saw: They cheated the 76ers last night:https://t.co/xS5dLkwgeq
— Reuben Frank (@RoobNBCS) March 28, 2024
I feel like there should be some sort of punishment for sh*t like this. These refs will probably roll along their merry way without any sort of consequence, fine, or suspension and continue working. There’s a human element to officiating, sure, but this is straight-up occupational negligence. Is that a thing? It should be.
To his credit, Oubre apologized afterwards and said what he did wasn’t cool. However, he also remained steadfast in his totally valid belief that the refs were giving the Clippers more favorable calls. Unusual for a road team, but when LA has big names like Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, James Harden and Russell Westbrook on the court at any given time, they’ll tend to get a more generous whistle than most.
"Heat of the moment. It was an intense basketball game… I want to apologize for just losing my cool… I just ask for forgiveness."
Kelly Oubre Jr. on his outburst towards the refs after the Sixers' loss to the Clippers last night.
(via @PHLY_Sixers)
pic.twitter.com/ltybXNYjJa— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 28, 2024
Times are tough in Philly with Joel Embiid injured. Wish that guy could just stay healthy. Although he should be back just in time for the playoffs, this Sixers squad is struggling without him. The reigning league MVP was playing the best basketball of his career before he went down yet again. Hard to believe Embiid was drafted all the way back in 2014. Even harder to believe that a singular talent like him hasn’t made it past the conference semifinals. That reflects so poorly on the 76ers organization, and now they’re likely to be a playoff team, which will make a run to the Eastern Conference Finals all the more of an uphill battle even with Embiid back in the lineup.
This Oubre situation feels like a microcosm of Sixers basketball. They just can’t seem to catch a break.
