It’s hard to believe that Stephen Curry could have an NBA game with only three points, as happened in the Golden State Warriors’ loss to the Houston Rockets — but Jimmy Butler seems to have found a reason, making a strong public complaint: “It really pisses me off.”

Let’s get to the facts. The Warriors were coming off five straight wins against tough opponents like the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets, until they ran into the surprise team of the Western Conference: the Rockets. And for Curry, things were about to get rough.

The Golden State Warriors not only lost by double digits to the Houston Rockets with a final score of 96 to 106, but Stephen Curry finished the game with only three points—making just one of ten free throws and one of eight three-point attempts. The rival team’s tough defense and the uncalled fouls by referees were part of the fiery comments made by Jimmy Butler.

With Curry previously warning about the narrative that referees aren’t calling fouls they should and expressing that he feels like “you’re fighting against it, and you’re not looking to be saved, even though things aren’t going your way,” Butler backed up that sentiment by publicly calling out what’s happening on NBA courts.

Jimmy Butler and a Public Complaint on Behalf of Stephen Curry: “It Really Pisses Me Off”

Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry. (Photo: Getty Images)

After acknowledging that the Houston Rockets players did a good job guarding Stephen Curry, Butler turned his attention to the referees, stating:
“I haven’t seen an individual get fouled more than he does. To me, I think it’s incredible. It’s crazy to say, but he’s used to it. He’s had this issue his entire career, but he’s figured out a way to deal with it, to work around it, and to overcome it. It’s tough. I’ve seen it since I’ve been here. I don’t know how many years he’s been in the NBA — what is it, 16? I’m pretty sure this has been happening for 16 straight years. It really pisses me off that he’s on my team and they treat him like that.”

Rockets’ Coach Fires Back at Butler’s Complaint

Unaware that Jimmy Butler had gone public with his complaints about the uncalled fouls on Curry, Ime Udoka, the Rockets’ head coach, offered a sharp response:

“When people start complaining about fouls or whining about physicality, you’ve already done your job. That’s the first step in winning the battle,” Udoka said.
“So I told my team: ‘When this team starts whining about that, ramp up the intensity, increase the physicality, and make the referees adjust to you.’”

Udoka’s response only added fuel to the already heated debate around how Stephen Curry is officiated — and Butler’s frustration made it clear that even the league’s biggest stars aren’t always protected on the court.