NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says the league disciplines its officials for missed calls, they just don’t make it known to the public.
Silver’s comments come a few weeks later the referees admitted a foul He should have called out Jayson Tatum from the Boston Celtics for his move against LeBron James late in regulation.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James reacts during a Celtics game at the TD Garden in Boston on January 28, 2023. (Paul Rutherford-USA Today Sports)
«First of all, they are absolutely responsible. We don’t publicize the discipline of officials. We don’t think it’s appropriate,» Silver said Thursday on ESPN. «But their assignments are affected by the quality of their calls, whether or not they advance to the playoffs and then round by round, it’s affected by the accuracy of their calls and their behavior on the court. So, there’s a system to oversee and make those judgments on officials. But more to your earlier point about making the right calls, again, that’s not a new problem.»
CELTICS REMOVE PROVISIONAL TAG, NAME JOE MAZZULLA HEAD COACH AFTER IME UDOKA’S OFF-SEASON SUSPENSION
On January 28, James drove to the hoop for the game winning layup with four seconds to go, and the score tied 105-105.
James was unable to convert, and the replay clearly showed that Tatum fouled James on the arm.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after missing a shot against the Celtics on January 28, 2023 in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
The referees did not call the foul, angering James and the game ended in overtime, where the the lakers lost125-121.
The next day, the National Association of Basketball Referees issued a statement admitting to the failed call.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
«Like everyone else, refs make mistakes,» they tweeted. «We made one late in the game last night and that’s heartbreaking for us. This play will weigh heavily and cause sleepless nights as we strive to be the best referees we can be.»
Silver addressed the no call when speaking to ESPN and said the play could not have gone to a replay.
Failing to call a foul bothered Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James during the Celtics’ game on January 28 in Boston. (Paul Rutherford-USA Today Sports)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
«I know a few people on that particular call you mentioned in that Celtics-Lakers match they were upset that there was no chance for a replay,» Silver said. «A lot of people focused on the coach not having another challenge. But remember in our league, you can’t challenge a no call. And there’s a lot of difficulty there when you get into don’t call. It might suggest that every moment of a game isn’t a call when a call isn’t being made in some way.»