For decades, NBA fans have complained about the league’s officiating, and it has even led to some conspiracy theories making the rounds.
One conspiracy theory claims that certain teams in certain markets get the benefit of the doubt from the officials, putting other teams, especially those from small markets, at a disadvantage.
On Sunday, it was revealed that the league had officially begun an investigation into referee Eric Lewis, who had officiated a nationally televised game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics at midseason.
The NBA opened an investigation into longtime referee Eric Lewis involving a Twitter account that responded to numerous posts on league officiating and defended Lewis and other NBA referees, first reported by @TheSteinLine, confirmed by ESPN.
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— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 28, 2023
In that contest, LeBron James was fouled while attempting a layup at the end of regulation, but Lewis didn’t make the call.
The investigation has to do with posts being allegedly made by Lewis on a Twitter account, which would be against league rules if that is indeed what took place.
The Lakers and Celtics are both teams that conspiracy theorists have alleged the league tends to favor in terms of officiating.
Yet the Lakers got swept in the Western Conference Finals by the Denver Nuggets and didn’t appear to receive any type of favorable officiating.
Another complaint that basketball fans have had for decades has been incessant flopping by certain players and the fact that officials haven’t really taken any action to curb the act.
Yet the NBA has reportedly discussed instituting a penalty for flopping that would result in a technical foul free throw for the opposing team.
It may try out this new rule during Summer League play in July, which would give it and its fans an opportunity to see if it may finally dissuade players from flopping.
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