sport news Adam Silver says the NBA DOES punish officials for wrong calls but they 'don't ... trends now
In the wake of a high-profile missed call by some of the league's officials, NBA commissioner Adam Silver spoke to ESPN about how the association deals with referees who make incorrect decisions.
The discussion was prompted by an incorrect call made by officials at the end of a high-profile matchup between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers.
In the dying seconds of the game, LeBron James was fouled on what could have been the game-winning layup - with a free throw being enough for a win. But the officials missed the call, the game went to overtime, and the Celtics were victorious.
LeBron's reaction to the missed call made headlines and prompted people to wonder if there's any way that officials get punished for failing to make the right decisions.
In an interview, Silver confirmed that the league does in fact punish officials for incorrect calls.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver spoke about the league's officials making wrong calls
This comes after a high-profile missed foul on LeBron James against Boston last month
James reacted furiously to the referees' failure to award a foul at the end of regulation time
'We don't publicize discipline for officials. We don't think that will be appropriate,' Silver said on SportsCenter to ESPN's Sage Steele.
'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.
'So there is a system for overseeing and making those judgements about officials. But more to your earlier point about getting the calls right, that's again not a new issue.'
The day after the LeBron situation, the NBA's referees union published a public apology on its Twitter account.
LeBron was angry about this decision for days, posting consistently on his social media accounts that he believed missed calls were not 'happening to anybody else' and that didn't understand why the Lakers were victims of so many poor decisions.
Silver says the NBA does punish its officials for incorrect calls but 'doesn't publish' discipline
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