NBA Refs Protest Colleague's Punishment

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Feb 28, 12:30 PM EST

NBA Refs Protest Colleague's Punishment

By CHRIS SHERIDAN
AP Basketball Writer

All 10 NBA games had one thing in common: referees wearing No. 62. In a rare protest against the punishment handed down to one of their colleagues, game officials turned their jerseys inside-out Friday night and stenciled in the number of referee Michael Henderson.

Henderson's bad call at the end of Wednesday night's Lakers-Nuggets game was publicly acknowledged Thursday by the NBA. Henderson was taken off three job assignments and summoned to the league office, the referees' association said.

"An unprecedented job action was taken against one of their colleagues, so an unprecedented response was necessary," said Lamell McMorris, a spokesman and negotiator for the National Basketball Referees Association.

Referees at every NBA game were expected to take part in the protest, although Eddie F. Rush and Nolan Fine worked the Grizzlies-Bucks game in Milwaukee and did not. The third member of their crew, Rodney Mott, adhered to the protest.

The NBA released a statement from deputy commissioner Russ Granik saying any referees taking part "will be subject to appropriate discipline."

McMorris said Rush and Fine were "intimidated" by refereeing supervisor Ronnie Nunn.

"From what I understand it was typical bullying tactics by the NBA. Ronnie Nunn came in and threatened them, told them if they wore their shirts inside-out they'd be fired," McMorris said.

NBA vice president Stu Jackson did not return a call seeking comment on McMorris' allegation.

In Friday night's games, Cleveland defeated Orlando 112-107 in overtime, Utah surprised Sacramento 102-97, the Los Angeles Clippers edged New York 96-94, Detroit beat Atlanta 105-83, Milwaukee edged Memphis 106-104, Minnesota downed Golden State 91-81, New Orleans beat Indiana 89-77, Houston defeated Portland 89-85, Phoenix beat Seattle 104-99 and Boston topped Toronto 88-75.

Henderson, in his second season as an NBA official, mistakenly whistled a shot clock violation after an attempt by Denver's Andre Miller brushed the rim and was rebounded by a teammate.

The officials huddled and ruled it an inadvertent whistle, resulting in a jump ball. The Lakers won the tip and made the game-winning shot with 3.2 seconds left.

McMorris said Henderson's three-game punishment was unprecedented.

"It's inconsistent with the performance evaluation standards that the league introduced to initiate communication between supervisors and referees," McMorris said. "This has never occurred for a bad call."