Whistle in hand

[Old School]

It's an NBA thing. Some officials are doing it to set themselves apart from the others in the NBA. NBA is big on style which is why they don't do half the mechanics the NCAA and NFHS is required to do. It's all about style when you see someone using this and they are trying to get into the NBA. They feel the strap around your neck or the lace hooked to your shirt looks ugly, or by not having this, they look better. It looks like a lot more work to me.

I am so use to using the straps, I could not referee any other way. I remember my strap broke in one game and I continued to officiate. I blew my whistle across the court so many times that I now make sure I have an extra strap with me.