After an NBA game, it\u2019s quite normal to see players receive criticism from fans on social media. It\u2019s just the nature of the sport. However, players aren\u2019t the only people within NBA circles who are on the receiving end of ridicule. A Denver Nuggets broadcaster found out the hard way after his ill-educated comments during last night\u2019s game.<\/p>\n
On Friday night, the Nuggets<\/a> took on the Los Angeles Clippers at home. The game attracted plenty of attention, since it was Nikola Jokic\u2019s return from a knee injury. Unfortunately, the discourse from fans had nothing to do with the product on the court.<\/p>\n With just over 6 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Nuggets held a 105-95 lead. The Clippers substituted star guard James Harden<\/a> back into the game. This prompted a controversial remark from Nuggets broadcaster Scott Hastings.<\/p>\n \u201cNow you\u2019ve got the other free-throw merchant coming back into the game,\u201d Hastings said.<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t take long for this clip to sweep through social media platforms, specifically on X. Fans didn\u2019t hesitate to make their feelings known.<\/p>\n One user adamantly stated<\/a>, \u201cNuggets announcers are the absolute worst.\u201d That sentiment seemed to resonate with multiple fans. Another user proclaimed, \u201cWorst f****** announcers only behind the Warriors. We all watched the refs rob the Clippers in broad daylight.\u201d <\/p>\n Although Hastings\u2019 comments were toward Harden, he received criticism for his hypocrisy, considering the Nuggets have a player who takes advantage of foul calls. \u201cThere is a 3000 lbs dude flopping around all over the court after getting bumps from players 100 lbs lighter than him,\u201d one fan noted<\/a>.<\/p>\n When looking at the box score, Harden\u2019s play didn\u2019t even warrant such a remark. The former MVP only went to the free-throw line five times. Nikola Jokic, in the meantime went to the free-throw line 17 times. He was five attempts shy of taking more than the entire Clippers team combined.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, this 10-second clip that went around didn\u2019t provide the full context of Hastings\u2019 comment. He referred to Harden as the \u201cother free-throw merchant\u201d. The full exchange between play-by-play commentator Chris Marlowe provides all the context needed.<\/p>\n \u201cJokic back to the line, that\u2019s the 16th free throw,\u201d Marlowe said. \u201cHe\u2019s made 12 of them. Here\u2019s Harden.\u201d Subsequently, Hastings replied with, \u201cNow you got the other free-throw merchant coming back in the game, so you wanna try to defend without fouling down the stretch.\u201d<\/p>\n Home broadcasters will be biased, that\u2019s the nature of the job. However, Hastings knows enough basketball to avoid being delusional. He can spot when the whistle is benefiting his team. If only that remark was the only reason he received criticism on X.<\/p>\n