After Controversial LeBron James Call, Should the NBA Introduce Video Assistant Referee and Goal Line Technology Like Soccer?

The NBA has come far from its nascent stages in the 1940s and 50s. From a sport associated with “firemen and plumbers”, to a global behemoth, capable of attracting millions of viewers daily. The NBA is one of the few American leagues that has captivated the global audience with its product. In fact, it is estimated that basketball is the third most popular sport in the world—only behind football and cricket. Per stats from Sportsshow, basketball has garnered approximately 2.2 billion fans, making it the most popular American sport by a wide margin.

The NBA has constantly evolved with time, which has made it a more enjoyable product for its fans. However, fans and players have been proposing changes to the NBA refereeing system following a series of questionable decisions. The has only grown louder, especially after a controversial call in which LeBron James’ three-pointer against the Minnesota Timberwolves was mistakenly ruled as a two-pointer, leading to the Lakers’ loss in that game. Many people have suggested that the NBA should take note from soccer and implement technologies like Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and goal-line technology. But would that be the right move?

Should the NBA change its review protocols?

On 30th December, in a closely fought game between the Lakers and the Timberwolves, LeBron hit a clutch three-pointer in the dying moments of the game. However, the shot was adjudged to be a two-pointer. Despite video evidence showing a clear gap between the 3-point line and LeBron’s foot, official Tony Brothers said the review wasn’t conclusive enough to overturn the call on the floor.

Following the game, a livid LeBron said, “It’s obviously a three. My foot is behind the line. I mean, you can see the space between the front of my foot and the three-point line … So, you know, Stevie Wonder can see that, champ. They said it was out of their hands”. This isn’t a one-off incident.

In recent times, the NBA has seen a slew of officiating blunders and dubious decision-making on the referee’s behalf. The NBA implemented the Replay Center to assist referees in making accurate calls. Nonetheless, certain protocols restrict the extensive utilization of this innovative technology.

The referees have access to instant replays, which can help them make informed decisions. However, to access these replays, specific triggers such as on-court altercations, flagrant fouls, out-of-bounds plays, and various other incidents must be activated. Another tool that the coaches can use in their favor is the Coaches Challenge. Each team is entitled to only one challenge throughout the entire game, because of which coaches usually hold back their challenge for the fourth quarter. The NBA should modify rules such as instant replays and coaches’ challenges to improve officiating standards and offer referees additional assistance. The NBA doesn’t need technologies like VAR because these technologies have less than a stellar reputation in soccer.

Less than stellar reputation of VAR

Since its introduction, VAR has become the central talking point of the soccer fraternity. It has created several controversial moments and some think that soccer will be better without VAR. Describing VAR as a source of controversy is an accurate statement. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that almost every match features some controversy related to VAR, making headlines regularly. The contentious decisions are more often than not regarding offsides and fouls.

However, the primary issue with VAR stems from the subjective nature of decisions. Despite having multiple angles of an incident, the final decision is ultimately made by a human, introducing the possibility of errors. The decisions aren’t definitive, which is the reason more often than not VAR creates controversies.

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On the contrary, the Goal-Line Technology has been well received since its introduction in the 2014 Brazil World Cup. The technology has eliminated any lingering doubts and uncertainties related to questionable decisions. Since its implementation, the goal-line technology has seen very little controversy. In fact, it has saved time and energy. Dubious decisions like Lampard’s disallowed goal vs Germany in the 2010 World Cup have almost been eliminated because of the technology. The NBA can certainly take a note out of FIFA’s book and implement a technology like the goal-line technology.

What can the NBA learn from other sports?

The NBA could consider incorporating goal-line technology, which would effectively prevent numerous dubious decisions and errors. Additionally, such technology would significantly assist referees in making prompt and well-informed decisions. The NBA can also take inspiration from Cricket’s Decision Review System (DRS). While the NBA has a system like that, it can definitely be expanded to include various other aspects of the game.

However, a point can be made against the use of DRS. Due to the fast-paced nature of basketball, DRS could slow down or kill a game’s natural momentum, hence making it less enjoyable. Nevertheless, the NBA really needs to rethink its review protocols because voices for change will only grow louder as more and more mistakes come to the fore.

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