In Game 4 of the NBA Finals, veteran referee Joey Crawford wheeled and screamed at Cleveland Cavaliers center Timofey Mozgov to “shut up.”
According to the big fella, Crawford later called and apologized for his rude explosion.
Mozgov says he has since moved on from the ugly episode.
Per the NEOMG:
Crawford called Mozgov for a foul with just under a minute to go in the first half. Mozgov had a legitimate gripe, as it appeared to be a clean block of Draymond Green with very little contact made. […] He went toward Crawford in a non-aggressive way to state his case and Crawford didn’t want to hear it, telling the big man very forcefully to “Do me a favor and shut up.”
Crawford apparently had a guilty conscience. Mozgov said when the team took the floor for warmups during intermission, Crawford approached him and expressed regret for speaking to him in that manner.
“I don’t think any ref should talk that way to a player,” Mozgov said. “That has never happened before. I didn’t appreciate it, but it’s in the past now. He apologized and I’ve moved on.”
