Refs are constantly criticized in every sport, but over the past few years, they have emerged as a significant problem in the NBA. From controversial calls to unreasonable ejections/techs, the frequency of these occurrences and the lack of accountability are becoming unacceptable.
The NBA’s Ref Problem Is Getting Out of Hand
The Problems
The officiating in the NBA is a major point of discussion this season. Many players, coaches, and fans have become fed up and frustrated with the refs. Several issues have created a significant problem in the league, tarnishing the game’s enjoyment.
Bad Calls and Lack of Consistency
Refs are human beings, and we all make mistakes. There will also always be calls that people disagree with, whether right or wrong.
However, the amount of inaccurate calls is concerning, especially in crucial moments. Just this season alone, there were several cases where the NBA’s Officiating Last Two Minute Reports revealed that wrong calls were made in the final minutes of a game, often skewing the outcome. Bad calls are more likely to happen in the heat of the moment, where fast judgment is required. But there have been too many times when replayed moments have still been called incorrectly.
There are also many cases where games feature a lack of calls or over-calling. Last year, The Athletic’s annual poll revealed that over a quarter of NBA players cited the inconsistency of officiating as the league’s biggest issue. But perhaps the most infuriating thing is no calls. Especially when there is clear contact, this often sparks outrage.
Too Many Techs and Ejections
A common view is that refs use techs and ejections like weapons. Any player who dares to yell, argue, express frustration, over-celebrate, or pass the ball back to the ref the wrong way is subject to meeting these consequences.
A natural part of the game is trash talk, heated actions, and arguing. Giving a tech or ejecting a player for unsportsmanlike misconduct is perfectly reasonable when things are taken too far. After all, the whole point of them is to maintain order and prevent further disruptions. But once they’re used irrationally, it ruins the game and the experience for fans who paid money to see their team play.
Techs and ejections have reached high numbers over the years. As of January 14, players have been ejected 29 times so far in the 2023-24 season. Moreover, the sheer number of these rulings has led to many fans calling the NBA and its refs “soft.” Some players have received techs for the smallest and most ridiculous infractions. Victor Wembanyama got a tech for bouncing the ball a bit too hard. Kyle Lowry got a tech for tossing the ball to a ref. LeBron James got a tech for slapping the backboard while dunking. Cade Cunningham got a tech for pointing. The list goes on.
Personal Involvement
There are times when refs have let their emotions and personal biases influence their judgement. Sometimes, calls are made subjectively. As a result, referees are constantly accused of favouring or targeting certain players and teams.
One of the latest examples is Eric Lewis, formerly an NBA ref for 19 seasons. Back in May, an investigation was launched into his social media activity. He allegedly had a burner account and was accused of using it to comment on officiating and defend allegations that Lewis favoured the Boston Celtics. He ultimately decided to retire, bringing the investigation to a close. This roused plenty of suspicion, as Lewis is most notably known for his highly controversial no-call in a Celtics win over the Los Angeles Lakers, bringing James to his knees in an outraged outburst.
Just look at the infamous relationship between Scott Foster and Chris Paul. Foster’s personal conflict with him has become entirely inappropriate, and he should never be able to officiate another one of Paul’s games. The last time the two went toe-to-toe, Paul was handed two techs and an ejection. The 38-year-old also has a 3-17 record in playoff games (across five different teams) that Foster officiated. While Paul has since revealed that the two have a personal beef, the NBA has taken no action.
Punishment and Accountability
It almost seems like players and coaches are punished more than refs. Any comments they make about officiating are met with a hefty fine. Ultimately, there are two things that the NBA world wants from refs: consistency and accountability.
Many argue that refs aren’t held accountable for their bad officiating. Fans constantly demand that they should be punished for bad calls, such as by being fined or regulated. But it’s the lack of public reprimanding that really aggravates fans.
Adam Silver revealed in an interview with ESPN’s Sage Steele last February that refs actually are held accountable for bad officiating. However, this is done privately.
“We don’t publicize discipline for officials. We don’t think that will be appropriate. But their assignments are affected by the quality of their calls, whether or not they progress into the playoffs and then round by round is impacted by the accuracy of their calls and their demeanor on the floor,” Silver said.
Still, with the number of bad calls that the NBA has had so far this season, this isn’t enough. The current system in place for reviewing and punishing refs appears to be ineffective. While refs do face some consequences, there are other options the league could explore. Nevertheless, it is heavily argued that public accountability and punishment would promote change. For instance, Trae Young previously suggested post-game interviews for refs after making “judgment calls” to make the call mean something to them. Since then, many NBA players have grown more frustrated with the lack of acknowledgement and are demanding more accountability.
The Last Word
It’s unrealistic to expect a perfect ref; it doesn’t exist. And it’s a difficult job. However, the relationship between the NBA world and the refs is declining. The lack of change and accountability is frustrating and seems to worsen every year. Better systems need to be implemented to reduce the number of bad calls. This is not an easy fix, but most incorrect calls can be preventable. It’s time for the NBA to make some changes for the people who have the power to influence the outcome of games.
