In the recent Bulls-Timberwolves game, referee Tony Brothers had to leave early due to an Achilles injury, as reported by @KCJHoop. The game proceeded with two officials. Despite his absence from the court, Brothers, the crew chief, issued a technical foul to Kyle Anderson for continuous complaining after a warning. Post-game, Brothers commented to a pool reporter regarding the incident. Anderson later stated that the technical was called too hastily, maintaining that the bench's comments were neither profane nor malicious.
Referee Tony Brothers on the T (Brothers was not on the court because of an injury but he is the crew chief): "After being instructed to stop complaining, [Kyle] Anderson continued to complain so he was issued an unsportsmanlike technical for continuous complaining."
NBA Referee Tony Brothers comments to a pool reporter after the MIN-CHI game: https://t.co/ddComTALmC
Kyle Anderson on the late technical foul: "I think he pulled the trigger a little too early, honestly. All we were saying on the bench was it's a foul. ... Nobody used profanity, nothing malicious. Just caught up in the moment of the game."
Referee Tony Brothers had to leave today’s Bulls-Timberwolves game early after suffering an Achilles injury, per @KCJHoop. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 https://t.co/fYJYoxCkYc
Crew chief Tony Brothers left this game with what our broadcast said could be an Achilles injury. Two officials working this game.