NZ Breakers coach Kevin Braswell has been fined an undisclosed amount for criticising Australian NBL match officials.
The American was fuming after Friday's loss to Melbourne United, claiming the Breakers are consistently on the wrong end of the foul count, compared to other teams.
Braswell's pockets maybe little lighter, but so was his sense of humour at a Breakers training run on Wednesday.
"The refs are great in the league," Braswell told Newshub. "I'm going to stay away from them right now, I just caught a hefty fine."
He wasn't so diplomatic last Friday, slamming the officials after a seven-point loss to Melbourne.
"We constantly shoot less free throws than almost every team in the league," Braswell said post-match.
"Every time we come in here, a team's shooting 20-plus free throws - you can't tell me the same thing's not happening on both ends."
Those comments landed him in trouble with NBL officials and while he wasn't prepared to double down today, Braswell feels his point's been made.
"My only reason for making them aware of certain things and the consistency of the league was more about trying to get Shaun Long to stay in the game," Braswell said on Wednesday.
The proof of that came in Sunday's loss in Sydney.
Not only did Long record a game-high 25 points, but it was also only the second time he's had less than three fouls in a game this year.
"A lot of those calls in America, they wouldn't be fouls," Long told Newshub.
"I get it though. Like I said, it's a different game, you know - I guess I have to adjust and they have to adjust to me."
Braswell is happy the adjustments have been made already by match officials.
"He played the whole game, we shot 26 free throws - there are no complaints anymore," Braswell said.
The next thing the Breakers need to fix?
Trying to figure out how to end a two-game losing streak and upset the table-topping Perth Wildcats.
Newshub.
