NBA referees have not had the same opportunities as players have to knock off the rust from the shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Right now, there’s a healthy amount of nervous anxiety for those who operate the whistles at NBA games with exhibition contests — the first opportunity for refs to call anything in roughly 4-1/2 months — set to begin next week. The reason is because it didn’t make much logistical sense to send referees into the greater New York City area and have them adhere to local guidelines there by quarantining for 14 days before working games. It’s no secret that there is a level of banter between players, coaches and referees during games. “There is not the same rhythm that our teams and referees and coaches have been accustomed to,” McCutchen said.

Source: Fox News July 16, 2020 20:21 UTC