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Had a situation the other night where a Home team player "dunked" the ball before the game when the officials were on the court.
(About 13 minutes before game time)
Actually there were two. The first one I didn't see (wink) that well, as the player was above the rim and "pushed the ball down" without touching the rim.
The second "infraction" the player caught the ball, did a 180, again above the rim, and "pushed" the ball down" as he was facing away from the basket.(Backwards dunk) Also, didn't touch the rim. (Actually looked pretty cool, nice athletic move)
Well, the Visiting Coach saw this and took a look over at me and made a motion with his hand (kind of like we do on a made basket). I gave him a nod that indeed I had seen it and was going to penalize with a T.
Most of us do not want to start the game with a T...plain and simple...but sometimes it can't be avoided, this was one of those times...IMO.
My partner, a top 5 official, and good buddy was going to be the Referee that night. (We take turns being Referee, usually do about 4 games a year together.)
Well, he thought I was kidding when I approached him and said we were going to have to start the game with a T because of the "dunk".
I was smiling but assured him I was not kidding, and pointed to the Visiting Coach who was watching our conversation and, smiling also, shaking his head yes.
My partner said, "If you are going to call that...then you are the Referee tonight." I said, "OK, bro, no problem."
Home team Coach was informed and told that by rule he now has an indirect technical foul but, (and sorry purists) I told him we would give him some "slack" on the "seatbelt" rule.
Anyway...the players said they did not dunk...as they did not touch the rim when "pushing" the ball down through the basket. That is how they defined "dunking", touching the rim.
How would some of you define "dunking"?
Dude
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