NBA players under the new CBA "will be able to weigh in on game referees in monthly reviews," and for the "first time ever by name," according to sources cited by Mitch Lawrence of SPORTING NEWS. In the past, players were "allowed to submit one report annually -- but never were allowed to mention the offending refs by name." The NBPA for the first time also created a hotline for players to "call in to critique the work of refs in their games." Players will have the ability to report to union officials "not just on where they think the official botched a call, but also if they found a ref to be out of line, verbally, with how they handled blow-ups." The hotline is a "response to the league allowing the new monthly reviews so that players can report something they thought was handled incorrectly while it’s still fresh in their minds." Players also will have "more input in how the game is played, with a greater voice on the league’s powerful competition committee." They will "get more say" in on-court work rules in a way that former NBA Commissioner David Stern "never allowed." Under the previous CBA, the competition committee was "comprised mostly of coaches, GMs and owners, with only one player represented." But the owners now have "agreed to allow the players to have four representatives." Players for the first time also get to "negotiate with owners when it comes to how they have to comport themselves during the playing of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' and how they’ll be required to dress if they’re sitting on the bench" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 12/24).
WHISTLE WHILE YOU WORK: ESPN's Brian Windhorst notes NBA Commissioner Adam Silver since taking over the role in '14 "has been pressing transparency with officiating." That is "what led to the reports that come out in close games about all the calls in the final two minutes." Some players do not like those reports, but Silver "believes transparency with officiating is vital, and he also wants to encourage open lines of communication between players and officials." Windhorst: "The job of officiating has gotten a lot more difficult in the NBA since Adam Silver took over. … Adam Silver is determined to try to build an understanding, not only with fans and officials, but also players and the officials” (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 12/27).
