In today's NBA, fans are often left scratching their heads when referees hand out technical fouls to players and coaches over seemingly minor incidents. Sometimes, those decisions seem to be made in the heat of the moment, leaving fans wondering whether an official has taken something personally.
However, this is hardly a new problem in the league.
One of the most memorable examples came in 2007 when Tim Duncan found himself at odds with veteran ref Joey Crawford. What made the incident particularly surprising was that Duncan, who was widely known for his calm demeanor and professional approach to the game, was ejected from a contest while he was sitting on the bench.
As bizarre as the sequence appeared, the two-time MVP later claimed that Crawford had gone so far as to challenge him to a physical fight, simply because he had a "personal vendetta" against him.
The incident took place during a regular-season contest between the Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks in 2007, when Timmy sat on the bench and began laughing. However, Crawford apparently took issue with his behavior and hit him with a technical foul.
Things escalated when Duncan continued laughing after a teammate was called for a foul. As a result, Jey assessed another technical, resulting in the five-time NBA champion being ejected from the game.
Given that Crawford had spent nearly three decades in the league at that time, many assumed he would have valid reasons for ejecting Duncan. However, the incident became more controversial when the Spurs superstar described what allegedly happened between them.
According to Duncan, Crawford was so frustrated that he challenged him to a physical confrontation.
"He looked at me and said, 'Do you want to fight? Do you want to fight?'" the two-time MVP recalled . "If he wants to fight, we can fight. I don't have any problem with him, but we can do it if he wants to. I have no reason why, in the middle of a game, he would yell at me, 'Do you want to fight?'"
Not only was Crawford cited for "improper conduct" and "inappropriate comments" to Duncan, but David Stern believed that Crawford's actions "failed to meet the standards of professional and game management" that NBA referees are expected to display.
Put simply, Crawford's experience and reputation did not exempt him from accountability for his behavior.
Interestingly, after Crawford claimed that the Spurs' big man had directed an expletive at him, that ensured that the league's disciplinary actions did not fall on the ref alone; Duncan was also fined $25,000
Nevertheless, as straightforward as Stern was, he made it clear that despite the respect that he held for Crawford, he had decided to suspend him.
"Although Joey is consistently rated as one of our top referees, he must be held accountable for his actions on the floor, and we will have further discussions with him following the season to be sure he understands his responsibilities ," Stern said.
Crawford's suspension stood out because it was the first time an NBA ref had been suspended since Rodney Mott received a three-game ban for making an obscene gesture toward a fan.
Although Joey was so frustrated by the incident that he initially suggested his officiating career was over, he eventually returned to the NBA and worked for another nine years. He officially retired on March 10, 2016, citing medical issues.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Oct 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
