“Game Was Rigged”: Bill Kennedy’s Apology to Stephen Curry Falls on Deaf Ears as Leaked Courtside Footage Enrages Fans

There was one talking point from the NBA Cup quarterfinals between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets. The officiating may have stolen what could have been a spectacle ending. The most prominent controversy occurred on the last call of the game. A questionable foul on Jonathan Kuminga angered Steve Kerr to such an extent that he claimed “elementary school” refs may have done a better job. However, that wasn’t all that Bill Kennedy, the chief crew came under fire for.

As the one dictating the tempo of the game, physicality was allowed all night, favoring the defenses on both sides. However, in the first quarter, Stephen Curry managed to hit a wild triple right under Kennedy’s nose. On release, he immediately raised his hands for the foul. Even Kyle Anderson saw the contact, but it missed Kennedy.

That’s still okay. Referees miss calls. But it’s not often that they admit their faults. As Stephen Curry continued to communicate with Bill Kennedy, the head official could be seen taking accountability. “My fault,” he told the Chef twice after missing what could have been another highlight four-point play for the decorated shooter.

The whistle didn’t favor Stephen Curry at all tonight. As the offensive engine, the two-time MVP only shot one free throw the whole night. But unlike Kerr’s frustrations, Curry chose to be self-critical in the loss. “I’ll take responsibility for not being able to get us organized and not being able to finish plays. Ball’s in my hands. I got to make shots” he said after the game.

Warriors fans don’t show any mercy to Bill Kennedy

Even though Curry took the blame for the loss, that wasn’t how the Warriors fans saw it. The ending added to the frustrations they had been harboring all night. The missed call on Curry though led to some major suspicions. “Game was rigged from the start” a fan claimed in reaction to the play.

While Bill Kennedy did miss the call on Stephen Curry, the whistle didn’t come easy for any side. The game only had a combined 19 free throws between both sides, with the Rockets having one more than their rivals. Additionally, not a single player went into foul trouble, a surprise given the sheer physicality during the contest.

But what this missed call costly is the fine margins of the game. Ultimately, even though contentious, the Warriors lost by just a single point. A free throw for Curry in this scenario would have led to equal scores. “THEY SOLD THIS GAME” a fan expressed his dismay.

The fans weren’t the only ones that couldn’t fathom some of the foul calls. Celtics legend Kendrick Perkins was among the several who felt Bill Kennedy made an error during the final possession. However, the official himself felt the contact made by Kuminga “warranted” a foul call.

Although it didn’t appeal to most fans, some found respect for Kennedy. In an age where arguing can get players technical fouls, the veteran referee admitting his fault was seen to be a commendable reaction by some fans. One even wrote “Respect. He didn’t have an attitude or feeling of entitlement just bc he’s wearing stripes, then he apologized. I can deal w that.”.

It doesn’t help to make peace with the end result. However, it does show the side of Bill Kennedy that has made him one of the most respected officials in today’s game. Not only is he a crowd favorite at times, but his tough whistle arguably makes games more enjoyable as was the proof today.

That though didn’t matter to the Warriors fans. Making peace with defeat is easy. However, with how it all played out, some fans made some serious accusations against the refereeing crew. “This is why I feel the refs bet on games. How do you miss that?? That what he gets paid to do is see that” one such comment read.

However, it all comes down to perception from the officials’ vantage point. Kennedy wasn’t favoring Houston over the Warriors with the stats being the moral proof. Yet, the last second call did seem harsh considering the magnitude of the game and what the result meant for the players on the respective sides.