Jalen Brunson Gives Adam Silver a Terrific Suggestion on How to Get Rid of Refereeing Controversies

Jalen Brunson might have just saved Adam Silver and the NBA league. In the media day presser of the Saturday All-Star the Knicks superstar was asked quite a heavy question. And after giving it due thought, Brunson finally had the answer.

The reporter asked Jalen what is the one rule that he would add to the NBA if he ever got the chance. In reply, he said, “I have a good one. I will say… Everything under 2 minutes must be reviewed”. A great answer, considering that the final 2-minute report is when the hammer drops.

The 2023-24 season has been more fraught with officiating incidents than anything else. From calling fouls in the most ridiculous situations to going head-to-head with players (read: Chris Paul vs Scott Foster), the highlight of the NBA has been the refs.

Most recently, though, the New York Knicks themselves got involved in an officiating incident. The Monday’s loss to the Houston Rockets had the team up in arms against what was an unnecessary foul. Aaron Holiday and Jalen Brunson were the leading characters of the incident. Crew chief Ed Malloy had admitted post-game that the foul by Jacyn Goble, the ref who ruled it as such, should not have been called.

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So, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Brunson’s comment could also be a subtle dig at the league for their inefficient handling of refs. Yet, one has to look at both sides of the coin before reaching a conclusion.

The NBA officiating duties are not all glitz and glam

From the outside, it might seem like the referees have it all. They get the best of action without being directly involved as well as be alongside some of the greats the sports world has to offer. While this is true, the one thing that is often overlooked is the hate and insult these officials are subject to.

Be it on the court to outside, referees get the brunt of negativity for doing their job. Calling fouls and making tough shots are not an easy decision to make. The players leave everything on the floor to succeed at what they do and it would be during such a situation that the ref would blow a whistle and everything comes to a standstill.

Barkley seemed to have understood the heavy weight these officials carry late in life. In an interview with CNN’s Chris Wallace, he said, “You got 10 guys; they’re moving, running up and down the court. They’re gonna miss some, but I don’t think any official goes to work and says, ‘Let me make a bad call that’s gonna change the outcome of a game’.”

The ‘Chuckster’ hasn’t shied away from barking at refs during his time as a player. But it looks like he has finally understood what these men and women go through. Anyway, Silver might want to consider Brunson’s suggestion and see if it can actually help.

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