Zoran Dragic: 'I don't know where they find referees like these' / News - Basketnews.com

Dragic accused referees of double standards and was wondering how they got appointed to officiate the game.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Slovenia lost against Canada in the quarterfinal of the 2023 FIBA World Cup on Wednesday. After the match, a major part of the talk revolved around refereeing.

Player of the Game EFF 40 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Points 31 Accuracy 8-12 Rebounds 10 Assists 4

Luka Doncic was ejected in the fourth quarter after receiving a second technical foul in the game. Throughout the entire 40 minutes, Slovenia's players felt like the officiating was not correct at times.

Canada, meanwhile, used Dillon Brooks and Lu Dort to constantly faceguard Doncic. Doncic himself called referees out in the post-game press conference.

Zoran Dragic, however, went a little further.

"We know what kind of man Brooks is - dirty. Their goal was to provoke us, he told Sportal. "The referees did not react to it, which is strange to me. When we made contact with them, they immediately called everything, and when they did, no calls came at all. It will be interesting how they will play against Serbia."

"Luka was out of his mind. I think we also argued with the referees too much, but it was very difficult," he continued. "When they constantly hit you, for a while, you want to provoke yourself, just like them, and then you get two technicals at the end, and you have to leave."

Asked whether the officials explained the criteria they used to call fouls during the game, Dragic denied.

"I didn't hear [what the criteria were], but I don't know where they find referees like these," he said. "Despite everything, we could have played a little better. We played at a really high level during the first two quarters, we went beyond what the referees were doing. Everything is not their fault."

Thank you for being with us! Subscribe to BN+ and browse ad-free.