Jackson fined $25,000 for criticizing referees

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Wednesday for criticizing referees a day after the Lakers lost a frenetic game last week in Utah.

Jackson was angry about a traveling call on center Andrew Bynum and a non-call after Bynum was slapped on the wrist by Utah center Mehmet Okur in the Lakers’ 114-108 loss last Friday. A day later, Jackson said the league “throws out some referee corps that you’re dubious about to start with and, you know, the game ends up like that.”

The NBA disagreed, as it tends to do on such matters, and penalized him for “publicly criticizing the officials,” according to a short statement from the league. Jackson had already spoken to the media before the fine was announced and was not available for comment.

The fine marked the second time Jackson was punished after a game in Utah. He was fined $50,000 in March 2004 for saying referee Bob Delaney was “prejudiced against Shaq [O’Neal]” after the former Lakers center was ejected for two hard fouls late in an 88-83 loss.

Jackson had an inkling that something costly would happen to him.

As he walked away from his daily briefing with reporters after Monday’s practice, he displayed a piece of paper that had been handed to him. A phone number with a 212 area code was on it. The NBA league offices are located in New York City.

“I’ve got a little yellow slip,” Jackson said.

Jackson was more irritated Saturday afternoon, about 12 hours after Bynum had only four points in 14 minutes against Utah.

“The big key with ‘Drew is they wouldn’t let him play,” Jackson said at the time, referring to referees Leroy Richardson, Derrick Stafford and Derek Richardson. “They called a walk on him that wasn’t a walk. He was fumbling the ball around and they were smacking him around. It was just a roughhouse game.”

Each team was called for 26 fouls that night.

Before Wednesday, Jackson’s most recent fine was a $25,000 penalty last December for violating the league’s anti-tampering rule by saying the Toronto Raptors’ Chris Bosh would be a good free-agent prize.

Jackson’s latest fine was identical to one assessed two weeks ago to Jeff Van Gundy after the Houston Rockets’ coach said referees allow “mayhem” to take place inside the key with post players.

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Just to be sure they don’t zone out again, the Lakers had a specific theme at Wednesday’s practice.

“I haven’t seen so much zone since high school,” Kobe Bryant said. “I guess we needed practice.”

The shooters took the brunt of the blame with an 11-for-37 effort from three-point range against the Bucks, but Jackson also faulted centers Bynum and Kwame Brown, who combined for five points and failed to seal off the Bucks’ post players for what could have been easy lob passes.

“I really berated our big guys for not moving behind the defense,” Jackson said.

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Chris Mihm stopped by the Lakers’ training facility with crutches, a large cast on his lower right leg and the beginnings of a beard, an unusual sight for the normally clean-shaven center.

He said he hoped to be fully recovered from ankle surgery if the Lakers made the playoffs, but acknowledged his return would be a longshot. In the meantime, he said it was difficult to watch his teammates go on without him.

“I kind of felt like we’ve built something here over the three years that we’ve been here,” Mihm said. “I knew this year was going to be a special year ... but it really was out of my hands.”

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TONIGHT

vs. Utah, 7:30, TNT

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 570; 1330.

Records -- Lakers 9-5; Jazz 13-3.

Record vs. Jazz -- 0-1.

Update -- After the best start in franchise history, the Jazz leveled off a bit with double-digit losses to Golden State and Orlando, but Utah defeated San Antonio on Wednesday night.

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com