Cheating in the NBA: Revelations from an NBA Referee

TLDRIn this interview, an NBA referee shares insights about receiving instructions from the NBA to favor superstar players like Kobe Bryant. He highlights the focus on entertainment and higher scoring in games, leading to specific calls and non-calls. The referee expresses that the NBA prioritizes entertainment over fair officiating.

Key insights

⭐️The NBA instructs referees to avoid making certain calls on superstar players to ensure their presence on the court and maximize entertainment value.

🤝Referees receive clear instructions from the NBA to favor certain players and increase scoring for a more entertaining game.

🏀During playoff series, referees are shown videos of missed fouls in previous games and are told to avoid similar misses in the current game.

💰Referees are motivated to follow the NBA's instructions to advance in their careers and officiate more high-stakes games, leading to increased pay.

🏆The NBA's instructions result in certain players receiving advantages over others, impacting the fairness and integrity of the game.

Q&A

Did the NBA instruct referees to favor specific players?

Yes, the NBA provided clear instructions to referees to avoid certain calls on superstar players like Kobe Bryant, prioritizing their presence on the court for entertainment purposes.

Why did the NBA emphasize higher scoring in games?

The NBA aimed to create a more entertaining experience for fans by encouraging higher scoring and a dynamic flow of the game. This involved giving certain players advantages on the court.

Did referees receive training or programming to implement the NBA's instructions?

Referees were shown videos of missed fouls in previous games during playoff series, with the goal of improving their officiating and ensuring certain calls were made to benefit specific players.

Were referees willing to follow the NBA's instructions?

Referees were motivated to adhere to the NBA's instructions to advance in their careers and gain more opportunities, leading to increased income. Their compliance was driven by personal and professional incentives.

Did the NBA's instructions compromise the fairness of the game?

Yes, by favoring specific players and influencing officiating decisions, the NBA's instructions created an unfair advantage for those players. This compromised the integrity and fairness of the game.

Timestamped Summary

00:05In a recent interview, an NBA referee sheds light on the topic of cheating within the association.

00:17The referee reveals that referees received instructions from the NBA to avoid certain fouls on superstar players like Kobe Bryant to ensure their presence on the court.

01:51During playoff series, referees were shown videos of missed fouls in previous games, instructing them to call those fouls in the current game.