Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley says he and his teammates will pay the $30,000 fine their coach, David Fizdale, received for criticizing the officiating after the team's Game 2 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
Conley said at practice Wednesday that he sent Fizdale a "thank you" text Tuesday at 4 a.m. Conley said when he heard the coach's "Take that for data" line, "We told him right away, you're not going to have to pay that."
Fizdale blasted the officiating after the Grizzlies' 96-82 loss to the Spurs on Monday night, calling the work of veteran crew Danny Crawford, Rodney Mott and Bill Spooner "unprofessional" and "unacceptable" before slamming his fist on a table and storming off.