NBA Rumors: Referees Union Demands Association to Stop the Last Two Minute Reports

By Jenn Loro - 09 Jun '16 11:25AM

The National Basketball Referees Association (NBRA) has petitioned the NBA to stop Last Two Minute reports. The referees' union says in a published statement that NBA's transparency campaign "will cause more harm than good for the officials and the game."

NBRA also adds that while the policy intent to increase the level of transparency basket is laudable, L2M can never change the outcome of the game, even controversial ones. Transparency efforts only breed "anger and hostility towards NBA officials."

"We call for an end to Last Two-Minute reporting and other transparency measures and a return to private, league-managed evaluations, reviews, education, training, and discipline for NBA officials," NBRA says in an official statement.

The L2M reports or ref reviews have been the subject of heated discussion among basketball pundits, fans, coaches, and even basketball players since the playoffs. The reports detail correct and incorrect calls and non-calls in tight games within 5 points in the last two minutes of regulation including overtime.

"It doesn't change anything. For the people involved, it's very frustrating because there's nothing you can do about it. So it's sort of an odd practice in that sense, but I think they just want to have transparency," San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said as quoted in a CBS report at the height of L2M controversy in Spurs-Thunder playoff games.

Despite the controversial petition raised by referees to end the L2M reviews, Commissioner Adam Silver remained strongly adamant of his desire to bring more transparency in officiating and protect the integrity of the organization. Other top NBA officials support Silver's position

"We're internally our toughest critic...We want to be fully transparent on the ones we missed and certainly the ones we do well on. Adam (Silver, the NBA commissioner) is a big believer in full transparency, and in a big believer in education. Our fans want to know as well. They want to understand why a call was made, what the rule was and how we viewed it," NBA executive VP Kiki VanDeWeghe said as quoted by USA Today.

Per UPI report, NBA referees officiating tight games made correct calls 96.2% on whistled plays. They are also 87.2% right in the last two minutes of games.