Chris Paul Critical of Female Referee Lauren Holtkamp

One of those technical calls came during a flurry of anti-Clips calls early in the 3rd. Holtkamp and Chris Paul had a quick exchange when the Clippers weren’t allowed to take the ball out in what CP3 felt was a reasonable amount of time. Here’s CP3 after the game. Text via ESPN:

"“I think we have to show better composure, but at the same time some of [the technical fouls] were ridiculous,” Paul said. “The tech that I get right there was ridiculous. I don’t care what nobody says, I don’t care what she says; that’s terrible. There’s no way that can be a tech. We try to get the ball out fast every time down the court, and when we did that, she said, ‘Uh-uh.’ I said, ‘Why, uh-uh?’ And she gave me a tech. “That’s ridiculous. If that’s the case, this might not be for her.”"

Shortly after Paul’s tech, Holtkamp whistled DeAndre Jordan for a technical when he yelled in her general direction after a dunk. Both were quick whistles that could have been let go, but that’s neither here nor there. Matt Barnes was T’d up on an equally dumb call by a male referee, but no one mentioned that.

Paul’s quotes are getting attention – and maybe rightfully so – because CP3 called out the female referee. Maybe he would have said the same about a male rookie, but who knows.

Refereeing in the NBA has plenty of problems and players know enough not to speak ill of other referees for fear of fines from the league. Holtkamp should be no different. A questionable technical foul shouldn’t be a concern in a game like this. Wait until she blows a call on a bigger stage or decides she’s the reason people buy tickets like her older male coworkers.