The NBA announced that Ime Udoka was fined for public criticism of officiating after Houston’s 128 to 125 overtime defeat to the Nuggets at Ball Arena on December 15.

In his postgame remarks, Udoka labeled the contest the most poorly officiated game he had seen in a long time and accused members of the crew of being starstruck and inconsistent with their whistles.

League executive James Jones confirmed in the statement that the penalty was strictly tied to Udoka’s public comments, reinforcing the NBA’s long-standing stance against coaches openly questioning officials’ integrity. For Udoka, who has built a reputation as a demanding, outspoken leader, the fine is a reminder of the line coaches walk when frustration boils over in front of cameras.

A Whistle-Heavy, Controversial Finish

Houston’s anger stemmed from a chaotic, foul-filled night in Denver. The two teams combined for 59 free throw attempts and 53 fouls, plus multiple technicals and a flagrant, with stars Nikola Jokic and Jonas Valanciunas both disqualified by fouls. One of the flashpoints came with 2.3 seconds left in regulation, when Amen Thompson was called for tripping Tim Hardaway Jr. away from the ball, a ruling that led to a Jamal Murray free throw that forced overtime.

Houston challenged the call on Thompson but the decision was upheld on review. Adding to the frustration, the league’s Last Two Minute Report later acknowledged three incorrect whistles in overtime, all favoring Denver, including a wrongly called foul on Kevin Durant’s clean block of Jokic and a missed loose ball foul on Hardaway against Alperen Sengun.

Balancing Accountability And Emotion

From the Rockets’ perspective, Udoka’s anger mirrored a locker room that felt it had done enough to steal a road win from the defending champions, only to see crucial moments decided at the stripe. The coach’s willingness to publicly defend his players and question the standard of officiating will likely resonate in the locker room, even as it lightens his wallet.

For the NBA, the fine serves as a public message as the season tightens and every possession is magnified. Coaches are free to disagree with calls in private, but going scorched earth in front of microphones continues to carry a steep price, no matter how controversial the ending on the floor may have been.