Carmelo Anthony questions why official ejected him Friday
Knicks starCarmelo Anthony said Saturday that he didn't think he deserved to be thrown out of Friday's game against the Celtics and hinted that a previous history with the referee who ejected him may have played a role in his dismissal.
"I always feel it's something. Every time we ... I don't want to say it's personal, but I always feel like it's something," Anthony said of referee Tony Brothers, who ejected him on Friday.
Anthony, speaking to reporters in Toronto before Knicks' 118-107 loss, added: "I didn't think [Friday] night it called for a tech or an ejection at that point of time. I really don't know what to say about the situation."
Anthony's wife, La La Anthony, tweeted on Friday night that Brothers "hates" Anthony and has a "personal" issue with the Knicks star.
Brothers told a pool reporter in Boston that he had no history with Anthony, a 13-year veteran. La La Anthony, however, reiterated on Twitter that Brothers has a personal issue with Anthony after Brothers' denial.
Carmelo Anthony was tossed with 4 minutes, 44 seconds left in the second quarter after consecutive technical fouls issued by Brothers.
Anthony received the first technical when he said something to Brothers after a loose ball foul call. Brothers walked away, but Anthony trailed behind and kept talking. He was then hit with the second technical.
Brothers later told a pool reporter that he whistled Anthony for the technical due to "bad language."
"One, I don't feel I said anything on getting a tech -- and two -- getting ejected,'' Anthony said.
He added: "There's nothing for me to say to him. It ain't personal with me from my end. I don't have anything to say to him. He's a ref. I play. I'll keep my mouth shut next time.''
Anthony reportedly argued with Brothers during the Knicks' road loss to Detroit earlier this season. Brothers was also officiating the Knicks-Celtics game in 2013 in which Anthony and Kevin Garnett had a run-in on the court that escalated into a confrontation after the game in the bowels of Madison Square Garden.
ESPN's Ian Begley contributed to this report.
