NBA fines Wizards coach Randy Wittman for using post-game profanity
The NBA announced Monday that Wizards coach Randy Wittman has been fined $20,000 for using a profanity during his post-game press conference following a loss to the Sixers on Friday.
A dismayed Wittman questioned his team’s “heart” and “guts” after the Wizards lost to the Sixers 109-102 in their home opener.
“You tell me what you think the problem is, you watched the game,” Wittman said. “Commitment to f—ing playing defense. That’s what it is. That’s what it boils down to.”
The Point Forward has pegged Wittman as one of the NBA’s leading “coaches on the hot seat." He didn't waste time or mince words in sizing up the state of his team.
“We’re not OK, we’re 0-2,” Wittman said. “We’re not OK. We lose games by the way we come out with our intensity. You can’t play this game for 24 minutes. If it was easy to win in this league, everybody would. I’ve got to find out if we’ve got the heart to do what it takes to win. Right now, we’re not showing it. That’s what I’ve got to figure out and try to get from them. We take the easy way out right now.”
Washington allowed 65 second-half points, including 35 in the fourth quarter, and six Philadelphia players scored in double-figures. Thaddeus Young led the way with 29 points and Evan Turner added 23 while the Sixers, who entered the season regarded as the league’s worst team, shot 51.1 percent from the field.
“If you want to win defensively, it’s hard, it takes guts,” Wittman continued. “A willingness to grind it out. … We’re not willing to pay that price. We’re not. Until we are, we’re not good enough to outscore a team 118-116. We’re not good enough. … If we’re going to win, I need to find somebody — at least five [players] — that has the guts and courage to go out there and lay it on the line defensively every night.”
His full post-game comments can be read here.
Washington has since dropped to 0-3 on the season.
Wittman, 54, is in his eighth year as a head coach and his third with the Wizards. He holds a career record of 147-293 (.334) and the Wizards are 47-87 (.351) since he took over during the 2011-12 season. Washington hasn’t made the playoffs since 2008.
