Transcript: NBA Referee Derrick Stafford Comments to Pool Reporter after Knicks – Grizzlies Game

January 17, 2018

Pool Reporter Transcript

Crew Chief Derrick Stafford

Postgame – New York at Memphis – January 17, 2018

NBA Crew Chief Derrick Stafford met with pool reporter Peter Edmiston of Sports 56 WHBQ and The Commercial Appeal after the game between the Grizzlies and Knicks in Memphis tonight. Here is a transcript of that interview.

Q: Why was Courtney Lee assessed the technical (foul) at the end of the game?

A: “As we were lining up to do a jump ball, Courtney Lee came up to the lane and bumped the kid named Dillon (Brooks) from Memphis. After Dillon was bumped, I stepped out of the circle and warned both guys to knock it off and let me toss the ball. After I stepped back into the circle, Courtney Lee used what I considered inappropriate language toward the young man, so I called a technical foul”