LEON WOOD, HAYWOODE WORKMAN, NATALIE SAGO AND LAUREN HOLTKAMP
NBA referees–officials, if you will–absorb a lot of punishment.
It’s part of the job.
They earn a relative pittance for their trouble.
The longest-tenured refs earn $550,000 per annum.
The NBA minimum player salary in 2022-’23 for one with no–as in zero–league experience is $1,017,781.
In 2023-’24, that figure will nearly double to $2,019,699.
Steph Curry earns $48,070,014 per year.
Each season.
Annually.
But this is not intended as a referendum on that, or even a statement to that effect.
(After all, Curry is the greatest shooter who ever graced the planet, and the moment the first dollar is paid–well, watch out. Ask Andy Messersmith).
Tony Brothers, who has been an NBA ref since 1994-’95 and is now entering his 28th season, has officiated 1,626 regular season games; 174 playoff games; and 15 NBA Finals games.
On November 4th Spencer Dinwiddie of the Dallas Mavericks told reporters that Brothers called him “a bitch-ass mother fucker.”
To one of his teammates.
But not directly to him.
Dinwiddie divulged that a “clap,” prompted Brothers to ring him up with a technical foul.
He also acknowledged that he swore, although, he said, the cursing wasn’t directed at Brothers.
He was fined.
“Not only would I like my money back. But I would like to not to be called a bitch-ass mother fucker to my teammates,” Dinwiddie said.
“If there’s anybody who feels that way about me–not naming any names–they can address me personally, face to face.”
He was upset that the comments were allegedly made behind his back.
Okay.
Not okay…
Seriously?
Leon Wood played for six NBA teams in his career (1984–1991) which included 274 games played and 1,742 points scored (6.4 ppg).
The tenth overall pick in the 1984 NBA draft out of Cal State Fullerton, he was chosen to compete in the inaugural NBA 3-point shootout at All-Star Weekend in Dallas (1987).
He played in Europe.
He played in the CBA.
He played in the Philippines.
He was a two-time International gold-medalist, winning at the 1983 Pan-American Games and as a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Basketball Team coached by Bob Knight
He led that gold-medal unit by averaging 7.9 assists per game.
Wood became an NBA official in 1996 and enters his 27th season in that capacity.
Think he understands the game?
Haywoode Workman, a 6’2” point guard, played 359 games in eight NBA seasons for five teams (1989–2000).
He averaged 5.5 points; 3.9 assists; 2.3 rebounds; and 1 steal in 20.1 minutes per game.
He played in 41 career NBA playoff games.
He was hired as an NBA official for the 2008-’09 season and has been there ever since.
In the history of the league, only three players–Wood, Workman and Bernie Fryer–have morphed from player to referee.
Natalie Sago and Lauren Holtkamp today are two of the NBA’s full-time female referees; there are presently eight women in all carrying this distinction, the most the league has ever had at one time.
Ten women have held this job in league history with the current eight joining Violet Palmer and Dee Kantner on that list.
Monty McCutchen, the NBA’s senior vice president overseeing referee development and training, simply says, “We’re looking for the best referees.”
The best people–the worthiest–get the jobs.
A meritocracy.
The players know this.
And the officials know it.
Of course, in the heat of the battle, emotions run high.
But for the most part, the refs are as adept at what they do as the players are.
In spite of the gross disparity in pay.
Fans don’t come to see the refs, it’s true.
But let’s knock off the incessant chirping and constant complaining.
Officials in every sport deserve that respect.
Prima donnas and divas–gender neutral–please take note.
It’s just not a good look.
[Editor’s Note: This piece was written by Mr. Kaplan in December 2022.]
