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NBA Fines Mavericks' Kidd $35K for Officiating Criticism

2/3/2026

29 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The NBA announced a $35,000 fine on Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd for criticizing officiating and using profanity during a media interview.
The fine followed Kidd's comments after the Mavericks' 111-107 loss to the Houston Rockets on January 31.
Kidd named the referees and said, "They were terrible" and "the referees did not do their job."
The Mavericks have lost four consecutive games.

History

Historical Context

In 1995, the NBA introduced stricter conduct rules for coaches following public criticisms, notably from Phil Jackson, resulting in $1.5 million in fines that season. This historical context echoes in Jason Kidd's recent $35,000 fine for criticizing officiating, underscoring ongoing tensions between coaches and referees and the league's commitment to maintaining officiating integrity.

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Story summary

The NBA announced a $35,000 fine on Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd for criticizing officiating and using profanity during a media interview.
The fine followed Kidd's comments after the Mavericks' 111-107 loss to the Houston Rockets on January 31.
Kidd named the referees and said, "They were terrible" and "the referees did not do their job."
The Mavericks have lost four consecutive games.

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