Joey Crawford admits fault for infamous Duncan ejection

Nine years later, soon-to-be-retired referee Joey Crawford has taken responsibility for his infamous altercation with Tim Duncan.

During a 2007 regular-season game, Crawford issued Duncan multiple technical fouls after the San Antonio Spurs big man laughed at him from the bench. Following the ejection, Duncan said the longtime official escalated things even further by challenging him to a fight.

"I was very, very arrogant," Crawford said to Steve Aschburner of NBA.com. "I had to constantly be told, 'You need to do a little personality overhaul, Joe.' The Duncan thing? That was my fault."

The incident was not without repercussions, as Duncan earned a fine, while Crawford was handed an indefinite suspension by the NBA. Crawford considered the moment a life-changing experience, as it motivated him to see a sports psychologist to treat his anger-management issues.