With the upcoming season looming less than 3 months away my thoughts turn to the state of the league as it relates to NBA officiating.
Ironically, the NBA decided to release the best and the worst ratings for NBA referees for the first time recently and they broke it down into 3 categories. Three tiers from excellent being tier one, good or solid representing tier two, and finally needs improvement in tier three.
Although I don’t often write about the officiating because it does little good, I have long believed the NCAA has somehow ferreted out a better class of officials than the NBA currently enjoys. I don’t believe the NBA officials are sordid or lacking in officiating acumen as much as I simply understand that no two officials are ever going to be the same.
Today’s officials are employed year-round, and at times I wonder what training classes are you attending, because it often appears the crowd gets the call right, more than the officials do.
Obviously, the NBA realized they had a problem, or coaches challenges would not have been implemented in 2019/2020. Did it make a difference? Only to the extent that games were won and lost because of a coach’s ability to question a call made by a referee.
I heartily applaud the NBA’s decision to implement this critical element to ensure a fairer outcome, but I’m all for taking it to the next level. For my money, as long as a coach wins a challenge that coach should continue to have a challenge available to him. Simply being given number of challenges that runs out and potentially leaves that team wanting during crunch time, makes no sense when the object is simply to get it right.
So, with the release of this critical information what did it reveal?
411 NBA players from all 30 teams participated in the voting or analysis of the current NBA referees, and a total of 20 referees found themselves in the bottom category.
You may or may not find that acceptable, but I do not. That number represents nearly 30% of the referees in the NBA and that number is far too high for me.
The fact the NBA saw fit to finally release the ratings of their current referees speaks volumes, and it tells me the commissioner’s office recognizes a problem.
I’ve already cited one potential remedy and there are certainly more, so let’s not let any grass grow under our feet Adam Silver, and start making some cogent tweaks to the existing system.
On a sad note, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the passing of basketball legend Don Nelson who at one time was the winningest basketball coach in NBA history. Currently ranked 2nd all-time with 1335 wins Don Nelson was a basketball maverick in a good way, and was responsible for the first point forward as it relates to running an unconventional offense.
Steph Curry cites Nelson as one of the key factors in him being drafted by the Golden State Warriors, and although Curry played just one season for the legendary coach, Don Nelson made an indelible mark on Curry that he never forgot.
Always an entertaining interview Nelson would undoubtedly have some pointed thoughts on the current state of affairs with NBA refereeing, and was an ardent supporter of the value of free throw shooting.
In 150 playoff games as a player, Nelson shot 50% from the field and 82% from the line.
At one time tormented by his inability to shoot free throws at a high percentage, Nelson pioneered the one-handed shot-put version that propelled his career and made him an asset at the line as opposed to a liability.
Rest in peace Don Nelson and thank you for the many years of competitive greatness as you won 5 NBA championships with the Boston Celtics.
His #19 jersey was retired by the Celtics, and although he was never inducted by the Hall of Fame as a player, the Celtics acknowledged his contributions with the retiring of his jersey.
Nelson would reach the Hall of Fame as a coach inductee in 2012, and it was so well deserved.
Would that the Sacramento Kings could have this intrepid inventor back for just a day to give some guidance to a young squad in need.
All the best Kings fans!
V.G. Harris
Vince Harris is an area resident and the author of Kings Corner, in which he contributes to Folsom Times, giving readers a look at the happenings on the court and behind the scenes of the Sacramento Kings.
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