NBA Refs ‘Suck Up’ to Kevin Durant, Says Grizzlies Star After Controversial Admission
The Houston Rockets barely escaped with a win against the Memphis Grizzlies . The game stayed tight the whole way, with Memphis threatening to flip the script at any moment. Then Kevin Durant stepped up and bailed Houston out. But the real story after the final buzzer came from Grizzlies forward GG Jackson , who unloaded on the officiating crew for calling the game with a clear double standard.
“I felt as though I was getting downhill, physical as I usually am. Get no calls but KD can jab step, jab step and jump up and down and your hand be right there and you clearly see in the replay nobody touched him and now you got Tari Eason , ‘bruh you not KD’. On this court right now, I’m the closest one to him. So like, just unbelievable how the refs can suck up to somebody,” Jackson said after the game.
He added context that made the comments even more pointed: “He’s the GOAT, so I respect that, but as far as us other guys, we bust our a– like he does too. We tie our shoes the same way.”
The core controversy isn’t just the “suck up” accusation – it’s Jackson’s explicit framing of superstar favoritism in NBA officiating: veterans like KD, a future Hall of Famer and self-proclaimed “GOAT” in Jackson’s words get the benefit of the doubt on marginal or non-contact plays, while younger, less-established players must “bust their a–” for the same treatment.
This taps into a long-running league-wide debate about inconsistent whistles based on reputation rather than the play itself.
And for Jackson, it’s not abstract. It’s personal – known for his aggressive, physical brand of basketball—attacking the rim hard and finishing through contact—has become a go-to scorer for the injury-ravaged Grizzlies this season, stepping up big while the team deals with a long list of absences.
So when he speaks about earning calls the hard way, he’s speaking from experience earned in the trenches of a depleted roster. And on this night, the numbers gave his frustration some grounding.
The numbers backed up some of his frustration. Houston finished with eight more free-throw attempts than Memphis. Sure, the Rockets were inefficient at the line and only made one extra free throw, but Jackson wasn’t complaining about the final score.
The stat line was simply evidence for a deeper grievance. His real issue was the lack of consistency: when he attacks the basket aggressively, he gets nothing, while Durant draws whistles on lighter contact. That kind of disparity leaves players feeling like the rules aren’t the same for everyone, and for Jackson, silence on that point was no longer an option.
That raw honesty could cost him. Players who go off on officials rarely get away clean— Boston ’s Jaylen Brown , for example, was hit with a $35,000 fine in January 2026 after ripping the crew following a loss to the Spurs , during which he went on an extended rant about inconsistency, called out the crew chief by name, and said he would “accept the fine” and “take the f—— fine.”
Jackson’s comments echo the type of unfiltered frustration that has drawn league penalties in the past.
The Grizzlies star did it without any filter whatsoever. That could very well result in a hefty fine for the 21-year-old, who is making the most of his opportunities with the Grizzlies amid an injury crisis.
Durant’s own numbers add some perspective here. The veteran has drawn around 7.3 free-throw attempts per game across his career and about 6.0 this season with Houston—solid volume for a perimeter player who relies on length, footwork, and crafty moves to create contact. He’s been part of officiating debates before, sometimes criticizing refs himself.
Even with Jackson’s frustration about the lack of calls, Durant’s 6-of-7 night at the line essentially mirrored his season-long efficiency from the stripe.
The eight-attempt gap wasn’t massive by NBA standards, but in a 10-point game, it still matters.
Kevin Durant, Rockets survive the Grizzlies’ surge
The Rockets had to battle early to recover from a 7-point deficit. However, the same theme played out. They held a comfortable lead, only for it to reach a point where they had to play with desperation. This came against a Grizzlies team that had 10 players on its injury list. The Rockets almost let this one slip away.
Notably, the Grizzlies’ Olivier-Maxence Prosper scored 26 second-half points. At one point, Memphis cut Houston’s lead to just three points in the fourth quarter.
But instead of succumbing to the Grizzlies’ pressure, the Rockets actually responded this time. Although they turned the ball over six times, the Rockets were efficient.
They shot 11-21 from the floor in the final period, also making three triples. They outscored the Grizzlies 32-27, securing a much-needed win.
Durant delivered the biggest shots, draining two clutch threes right when the Grizzlies were gaining momentum. He finished with 10 assists and just one turnover through three quarters, helping snap Houston’s two-game skid.
It wasn’t pretty, and it wasn’t dominant. But strong rebounding and clutch play from a veteran like Durant got the job done.
The Rockets will try to keep their road surge going in Sunday’s visit to New Orleans , coming in having split their last four and firmly holding onto sixth in the West, one game back of Minnesota for fifth and still clear of the play‑in line.
