If you follow the NBA closely then you’re quite aware of Richard Jefferson.
He used to make his living playing for the New Jersey Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, San Antonio Spurs, Cleveland Cavaliers, and others from 2001 to 2018.
Nowadays, he’s one of the best, most knowledgeable NBA analysts on TV, giving an opinion steeped in experience and fact.
And now he will be putting on another hat: that of an NBA referee.
NBA Champion and 17-year NBA veteran Richard Jefferson will officiate the second quarter of tonight's New York vs. Portland game after attending daily NBA Summer League Officiating Meetings in Las Vegas.
🏀 @nyknicks vs. @trailblazers
⏰ 8 p.m. PT / 11 p.m. ET
📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/wNKYxjvJYd— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) July 11, 2022
Jefferson will officiate the second quarter of Monday night’s Summer League game between the New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers.
This move comes after Jefferson attended daily NBA Summer League Officiating Meetings in Vegas and studied how the refs work.
Following his second quarter on the court, Jefferson will then join NBA TV to talk about his experience being a ref and all he learned.
Summer League Lessons
The NBA Summer League doesn’t have the most important games, there is no denying that.
In fact, some people consider the Summer League to just be glorified scrimmages.
There is more to it than that but, yes, the games are more about getting experience, finding comfort on the floor, and keeping an eye on up-and-coming talent.
That’s why Jefferson playing ref during a game on Monday makes so much sense: the stakes are lowered, the atmosphere is more fun, and the environment is ideal for trying out something different and interesting.
Jefferson will quickly learn just how hard it is to referee a basketball game, no matter if it’s regular season or Summer League.
Refs are often ridiculed and lambasted against by fans, as they don’t have an easy job.
Jefferson will surely highlight that and praise them for the hard, important work they do all year round.
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