Are Referees After Van Exel?

Nick Van Exel talked Wednesday, a night after his reputation may have beat him to the punch.

“I don’t think they’re out for me,” the Laker point guard said of NBA officials, like the one, Ronnie Nunn, who ejected him with 50 seconds left in the second quarter Tuesday at Sacramento. “They don’t call many fouls on me, but they don’t call many against me. So I don’t think I’ve been treated unfairly. Now the team, on the other hand . . . “

Van Exel conceded, though, that last season’s run-in with Ron Garretson, which resulted in a seven-game suspension and $25,000 fine, may be a lingering image for referees. So could he have been done in by his reputation?

“I guess,” Van Exel said.

He’s not the only one.

“I’ve got to think so,” Coach Del Harris said after the game. “Normally, guys don’t get thrown out of big games, especially for established starters to get thrown out of a game, for that little bit of an effort. Let’s face it, you’ve seen Charles Barkley all but expose himself and not get thrown out of a game.”

Wednesday, Harris backed off the comments a bit, noting: “It’s probably more perceived than anything.”

Those were the first two technicals of the season against Van Exel. Shaquille O’Neal has four.

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By beating the Kings, the Lakers improved to 6-0 against the Pacific Division.