DeMar DeRozan's pockets just got a bit lighter.
The Sacramento Kings star guard was fined $25,000 by the NBA for public criticism of officiating, the league announced on Friday.
DeRozan's comments came after the Kings fell to the Denver Nuggets, 116-110, on Wednesday.
According to NBA insider Brett Siegel, the six-time All-Star told reporters after the loss, "the refs were terrible. Terrible as (expletive). It’s as simple as that."
While it's unclear what exactly motivated DeRozan's comments, the free throw disparity between the Western Conference rivals may have played a part in the matter. The Nuggets took more than twice as many attempts at the line than the Kings, going 24-of-30 versus 11-of-14. The loss also put an end to Sacramento's four-game win streak.
DeRozan joined the Kings in the off-season, making his way via sign-and-trade with the Chicago Bulls. He's now in the first year of a three-year, $70 million deal.
He's averaging 22.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.0 steals through 56 games this season.
The Kings return to action on Friday, welcoming back former star guard De'Aaron Fox and the San Antonio Spurs for the first time since trading him away last month.
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