Scott Foster (basketball)
Scott Foster | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Foster officiating a game in 2018 | |
| Born | April 8, 1967 Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | NBA referee |
| Years active | 29 |
Scott Foster (born April 8, 1967) is an American professional basketball referee for the National Basketball Association (NBA). He began officiating games for the NBA in the 1994–95 season and wears number 48. He's known for his poor calls in close games.
Nicknamed "The Extender" because teams trailing in playoff series have often won games he has officiated, thus lengthening the number of games played, Foster's refereeing has drawn criticism from fans and players.[1][2][3] In an anonymized survey of nearly three dozen NBA players by the Los Angeles Times in 2016, and a separate anonymized survey of 108 NBA players by The Athletic in 2023, he was voted the worst referee in the NBA.[4][5]
Early life[edit]
Foster was born on April 8, 1967, in Silver Spring, Maryland. He attended Magruder High School,[6] and then the University of Maryland.[7]
Officiating career[edit]
Before his career in the NBA, Foster worked as a referee for two years in the Continental Basketball Association and in college basketball, and for six years in high school basketball. As of the 2021–22 NBA season, he had officiated 1,617 regular-season games and 226 playoff games in 28 seasons.[7] One of his most notable games was the deciding Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics; he officiated along with Danny Crawford and Joey Crawford.[8][9][10]
Critics of Foster in the NBA have asserted he has assessed technical fouls for seemingly arbitrary reasons, missed crucial foul calls, and favored teams. James Harden called Foster “rude and arrogant.”[11][12][13]
Foster's relationship with former NBA referee Tim Donaghy, who pled guilty to two federal charges for fixing games, has also been called into question. According to court records, Donaghy made 134 phone calls to Foster between October 2006 and April 2007, during which time Donaghy admitted to betting on games or passing on game information to gamblers. The majority of the calls lasted less than two minutes and occurred prior to and after games Donaghy officiated and on which he admitted to gambling on.[14] In March 2024, NBA player Rudy Gobert was fined $100,000 for rubbing his fingers together in a so-called money gesture at Foster during a game. Gobert later implied, in a postgame interview, that Foster is an unfair officiator while raising the issue of gambling's influence on the sport.[15]
References[edit]
- ^ "Scott Foster among NBA referees assigned to Celtics-Heat Game 4". RSN. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
- ^ Krivitsky, Bobby (13 May 2022). "Scott Foster a Late Scratch for Game 6 Between Celtics and Bucks". Sports Illustrated Boston Celtics News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
- ^ "NBA ref Scott Foster is notorious among fans across the league, including the Raptors fan base. Here's why". thestar.com. 2023-03-07. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
- ^ Sam, Doric. "NBA Players Vote Tony Brothers Best, 2nd-Worst Ref; Scott Foster Rated Worst". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
- ^ Zucker, Joseph. "NBA's Best, Worst Referees Named by Players in LA Times Survey". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
- ^ "Scott Foster". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
- ^ a b "Scott Foster". NBRA. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
- ^ Prada, Mike (2010-06-17). "NBA Finals Game 7 Referees: Joey Crawford, Danny Crawford And Scott Foster". SBNation.com. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
- ^ Ladan, Luka. "Celtics vs. Lakers Game 5: The Referees Take Center Stage at NBA Finals". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
- ^ Staff, NESN (2010-06-17). "Joey Crawford, Scott Foster, Dan Crawford Assigned As Game 7's Officials". NESN.com. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
- ^ "Scott Foster among NBA referees assigned to Celtics-Heat Game 4". RSN. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
- ^ Krivitsky, Bobby (13 May 2022). "Scott Foster a Late Scratch for Game 6 Between Celtics and Bucks". Sports Illustrated Boston Celtics News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
- ^ "NBA ref Scott Foster is notorious among fans across the league, including the Raptors fan base. Here's why". thestar.com. 2023-03-07. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
- ^ "Disgraced Former NBA Referee Tim Donaghy's Phone Calls to Second Ref Raise Questions". Fox News. 25 March 2015.
- ^ "Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert fined $100,000 for directing 'money sign' gesture toward referee". Associated Press. 10 March 2024.