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Chris Paul got ejected for mocking ref Tony Brothers’ viral TikTok interview.
On TikTok, there’s a viral video of Brothers in which he says that he didn’t care much about basketball before becoming a ref and only got into the profession while studying to become a judge.
“I don’t even really care too much for basketball, in the sense that I’m not a fan of just watching it. When I ended up refereeing in the NBA because I wanted to be a judge.
“So the whole desire to be a judge, I didn’t know what type of judge I was gonna be, but now I’m the judge, jury, prosecuting attorney, and defense attorney, everything”
@floridavipersacademy From mingling to mastering the whistle. Tony Brothers’ journey to NBA officiating started with a chance encounter, leading to a legacy of fair play. 🏀🎤 #WhistleBlowerJourney #TonyTime #RefereeRevelation #CourtCalling #NBAJourneys #WhistleWhileYouWork #BehindTheBuzzer #GameGuardian Tony Brothers, a name synonymous with NBA officiating, wasn’t always destined for the court. His journey began unpredictably, nestled in a casual networking event where fate had him cross paths with a charismatic woman deeply entrenched in the world of refereeing. Her passion for the game and the art of officiating resonated with Brothers. As she unfolded tales of split-second decisions under the roaring applause and uproar of fans, a spark ignited within him. The idea of being a referee, a guardian of fair play amidst the swirling storm of competition, intrigued him. That chance meeting wasn’t just a casual chat, it was a doorway to a path less traveled. Under her mentorship, Brothers delved into the rulebooks, aced the tests, and sprinted across countless courts mastering his craft. His newfound ambition drove him to the elite courts of the NBA, where he now orchestrates the game’s rhythm with a blow of his whistle. And as they say, the rest is history, a history witnessed and narrated through the eyes of every player, coach, and spectator he’s encountered in his illustrious journey of being an NBA referee.
On Thursday, Paul was bizarrely ejected with six seconds left in the Warriors-Pacers game.
Chris Paul was ejected from the Warriors game with 6 seconds left after receiving his 2nd technical foul pic.twitter.com/M8H46Ak5CP
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 23, 2024
During the postgame press conference, Paul revealed that he had mocked Brothers over the TikTok interview and told Brothers he felt he had too much power.
“So Tony, he’s talking to me, I talk back. I called him a “TikToker” and I got a tech. The first one, I just said TikToker. The second one I said he has too much power and he gave me another tech…he’s the judge, the jury and all that.”
Chris Paul said he called Tony Brothers a “Tik Toker” to get the first technical and told Brothers he has too much power and received a second T.
(Paul just posted a Tik Tok of a Brothers interview to his IG story) pic.twitter.com/W2B7x3M4fv
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 23, 2024