Nate Robinson picked up a technical foul at what could have been a crucial juncture of the Nuggets’ game against the Knicks on Friday. It didn’t turn out to be that crucial, since the Knicks did what the Knicks do and lost anyway, but Denver coach Brian Shaw wasn’t crazy about it regardless.
After Randy Foye blocked Carmelo Anthony‘s last-second jump shot to help the Nuggets dispatch the Knicks 97-95, Shaw was shaking his head at the high-strung Robinson earning his second tech of the season. But Robinson wasn’t so sure about the “earned” part.
“[The officials] hate me,” Robinson said, according to the Denver Post. “They hate me. I don’t know why, but it is what it is. I already know I’ve got the target on my back, but I’ll play through it; I don’t care. I really don’t. It doesn’t bother me none. If I get a call, I get a call. If I don’t, I don’t. If I get a tech, hopefully it’s not in the fourth quarter. Hopefully, I don’t get any more, but I know I will. It’s nothing new for me.”
Robinson is one of just 32 players who have picked up multiple T’s this season, although he would have to go on tech rampage to catch league leaders Dwight Howard and DeMarcus Cousins, who have five each. Of course, given the referees’ supposed hatred of him, it’s not unthinkable.
In case you’re curious, Robinson was whistled for five technicals during his time with the Celtics from 2010 to 2011.
