Let’s talk about the greatest rivalry in NBA history, between two real enemies. Not Magic vs Bird, Jordan and the Pistons, or LeBron and Warriors.
We’re talking the greatest enemy to every NBA team. The only unbeatable squad in the league. We’re talking about none other than the officiating squad, the referees (Clips).
The refereeing in the current NBA season has become a focal point of conversation. Referees have faced growing dissatisfaction from players, coaches, and fans alike. And while the complaint about officiating has existed as long as the sport, this year there has been some particularly questionable calls. Even, determining the outcome of games. And some players and coaches have been vocal about it (Clips).
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Now, referees are obviously human. And one might argue that they have they hardest job on the court. In the modern game, replays, two-minutes reports, and viral press conferences put more pressure than ever on the NBA’s officiating crews. And maybe the referee’s performances are actually better than they’re given credit for. Or maybe there’s a deeper problem within the NBA rules.
In a series of polls done by The Athletic in April 2023, one poll asked NBA players the question, “What’s the biggest issue facing the league?” Among other answers like social media, mental health, and load management, the number 1 answer came back as “officiating.” Yes, NBA players feel that the biggest problem in the league today, is that refs. And in some ways, the refs are living up to the poll. Now, take that poll for what it’s worth, because if you’ve played or watched sports on any level, then you know that complaining about the officiating is almost mandatory.
In a recent game, the Boston Celtics experienced a two-point loss to the Indiana Pacers. But the ending of that matchup was controversial to say the least. With the game tied, and 6 seconds remaining on the game clock, and the ball in Jaylen Brown’s hands, he attacks the Pacers defense. He elevates, fading to his right for a shot attempt. And with 3 seconds left, the refs blow the whistle on what looks like a close call. Brown nods and points to indicate that he was hit on the head, and makes his way towards the free throw line with hopes to give the Celtics the edge.
But with one timeout remaining, the Pacers challenge the call and surprisingly the call is overturned. Now, the replay shows clearly that Buddy Hield makes contact with both the ball and the back of Brown’s head. So, is this a foul? In the official 2-minute report, released after the game is over and has been reviewed, the league stood by the overturned call, explaining, quote, “The video clearly shows that Hield reaches forward and makes contact with the ball from behind Brown (BOS). While in contact with the ball, Hield also makes minimal contact with Brown's head, and on review that contact was correctly deemed incidental. As the rulebook makes clear, the mere fact that contact occurs does not necessarily constitute a foul; contact which is incidental to an effort by a player to defend an opponent, reach a loose ball, or perform normal defensive or offensive movements is not considered illegal.”
Now, there seems like an obvious gray area in this rule. But even looking back, the NBA’s decision to double down on the overturned call through that 2-minute report is telling. While players took to social media to express their opinions, and the common fan probably thought the refs were wrong, the incident does bring up some important questions with officiating.
Are the rules clear enough? b
Throughout this season alone, the NBA's Officiating “Last Two Minute Reports,” have exposed numerous instances of incorrect calls shaping the outcome of games. While errors can be expected in the fast-paced moments requiring quick judgment, the problem persists even in reviewed situations. There appears to be inconsistencies in the officiating, including both missed calls and excessive calls. Both real time calls, and reviewed calls.
Technical Fouls
There’s also popular perspective that referees wield technical fouls and ejections like weapons, punishing any player who dares to express frustration, celebration, argument, or any act that the refs view as excessive or incorrect. While these accusations are likely exaggerated by biased fans, including myself at times, there seems to be an undeniable inconsistency from player to player.
For example, on one of these two plays one player was given a technical, and it might not be the one you would guess(Clip).
To be fair, it’s not clear exactly what Jokic says to the refs, but one thing is clear. Some players are given a lot more patience when it comes to arguing and complaining. There is an inconsistent tolerance towards each player, and really each ref.
Engaging in trash talk, displaying heated actions, and engaging in arguments are inherent aspects of the game. It’s competition after all. And it is reasonable to issue technical fouls or even eject players for unsportsmanlike conduct when boundaries are exceeded. However, when these measures are applied irrationally, or inconsistently, it detracts from the game and diminishes the experience for players and viewers.
The frequency of technical fouls and ejections has escalated over the years. As of January 14, there have been 29 player ejections in the 2023-24 season alone. The sheer volume of these sanctions has led many fans to criticize the NBA and its referees, branding them as "soft." (Clips - Examples include Victor Wembanyama getting a tech for bouncing the ball a bit too hard, Kyle Lowry receiving one for tossing the ball to a ref, LeBron James getting a tech for slapping the backboard while dunking, and Cade Cunningham being penalized for pointing. The list goes on) I mean it’s easy to understand why there is such a thing as a technical foul, but some of these seem downright stupid.
But aside from technical fouls, common fouls haven’t changed as much. The numbers continue to tell the same story each season. Of course, foul rules change over the years, other eras seemed more physical, and there is a real argument that the rules favor offense. But take a simple stat like how many personal fouls are committed per game, and the numbers have been consistently around the same for decades. If anything, less fouls are being called in recent years. (Show decades).
2019/20-2023/24: 19.86
2009/10-2019/19: 20.29
1999/00-2008/09: 21.96
1990-1999: 22.73
1980-1989: 24.95
1970-1979: 24.45
1960-1969: 26.12
1950-1959: 26.29
Now these numbers can be explained in many ways, but it seems like the refereeing is probably not as bad as fans make seem. In doing research for this video, I came across older articles making some of the same complaints as today.
Do players bait for fouls. Yes.
Do players flop? Of course.
Do referees make huge mistakes on the court? Of course.
I guess it’s just part of the game.
Do you think the officiating is getting worse?