Overview
- Players, through the NBPA, released a survey of 73 referees rated by 411 respondents and shared it with the NBA in March, urging Tier 1 and Tier 2 officials for the playoffs and Tier 1 only for the Finals.
- TrueHoop reported that versions of the NBPA chart posted online did not match, with missing names and tier shifts that moved Tyler Ford, John Goble, and Michael Smith down and added Natalie Sago in Tier 3.
- The NBA has assigned some lower-rated officials to postseason games despite the guidance, with TrueHoop noting playoff assignments for Tier 3 referees John Goble and Natalie Sago.
- The rankings placed Zach Zarba as the top overall official, while Scott Foster landed in Tier 2 with the widest spread in player ratings, reflecting his polarizing reputation.
- TrueHoop reported that the union asked the league to keep Scott Foster, David Guthrie, and John Goble off the Finals crew, setting up a clear test of how much weight player feedback carries.