Steve Kerr claims NBA rules are biased towards offensive players, calls for referees to not 'bail them out for bullsh*t stuff'

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr recently suggested how referees should officiate games in the modern era of basketball. While he acknowledged the significant improvements and evolutions players have made over the years, he felt that referees favored the offense more than the defense when calling violations.

Coach Steve Kerr claimed that most players in today's NBA tend to exaggerate movements. He pointed out how offensive players oversell contact to get a call from the referees. Kerr also claimed that a lot of extra steps are being allowed when carrying the ball.

"To me, the league is in a really good place," Steve Kerr said. "There are so many skilled players and I think the game is more efficient. ... The one area where we can find some balance is the way we officiate the game. ... It just starts with not enabling the offensive players and bailing them out for bulls**t stuff that they're doing."

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Steve Kerr calls out 'disgusting' foul call baiting following Denver Nuggets loss

NBA Referees

This is not the first time Steve Kerr has expressed his frustration at modern-day NBA officiating. Following the Golden State Warriors' 120-114 loss to Denver Nuggets on Dec. 25, Kerr spoke about the ease at which offensive players seem to win foul calls. He said(h/t Reuters):

"I have a problem with how we are legislating the defense out of the game. We are enabling players to B.S. their way to the foul line. If I were a fan, I wouldn't have wanted to watch the second half of that game. It was disgusting. It was just baiting refs into calls, but the refs have to make those calls

"The players are really smart in this league. For the last decade, they've gotten smarter and smarter. We have enabled the players, and they are taking full advantage."

Warriors were called for 23 fouls in the game, with reigning MVP Nikola Jokic drawing 12 of them.

"It's a parade to the free-throw line, and it's disgusting to watch."

Jokic, however, shrugged off the bait calls, claiming it may have been a result of his physical plays to make up for his hit-and-miss showing. The Serbian superstar managed 4-of-12 from the floor, although he ended up with 26 points, thanks to a record 18 free throws. He said:

"I was missing shots, so I was just trying to be aggressive in another way, maybe play a little more physical. It just happened to be that kind of night. This is the most I've ever had."