NFL officials aren’t the only ones to blow calls.
A week after National Football League referees were heavily criticized for botching calls in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, NBA refs have shown they’re not immune to head-scratching errors.
The latest example came on Thursday night during the Memphis Grizzlies‘ dramatic 120-119 victory over the Houston Rockets.
With under 15 seconds left and Memphis trailing by one, Jaylen Wells had a clear path to the basket on a fast break when the referees abruptly stopped play, costing the Grizz the easy bucket and forcing a reset in play.
The reason? They mistakenly granted a timeout to head coach Taylor Jenkins, despite him never asking for one.
The official saw him make a gesture that they thought was him signalling for a timeout.
The furious Grizzlies head coach lost his cool on the sidelines and stormed onto the court pleading his case.
Fortunately, both he and his team were able to compose themselves and see out the game.
Still, the obvious error left a bad taste in the mouth and Inside the NBA analyst Charles Barkley was just as annoyed as anyone.
“The ref just blew the call, plain and simple,” Barkley said while watching the highlights.
Jenkins was asked about the controversial call after the game and shared his thoughts.
“That’s what I motioned, that’s what I said, that’s what I told the team to do,” Jenkins said in response to a question asking if he was telling the team to go on the fast break.
“We’ll see what the two-minute report or if the league says anything,” Jenkins said.
“My intention was not to call a timeout, I said go go go. I wasn’t even signaling a timeout.”
It comes after San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama vented his frustrations at officials after a recent game against the Clippers.
“It’s just frustration,” said Wembanyama, after he became entangled with Clippers big man Ivica Zubac during the San Antonio Spurs‘ 128-116 road loss and ended up on the floor.
“It feels unfair sometimes,” Wembanyama said.
“We talk about it with the staff and there is some stuff I have to do to help myself. First of all, being strong and not bailing out shots, but also there is some work to do.
“Talking to the refs, of course, explaining myself. But for me, it doesn’t feel like it’s something I should influence.
“I’m a basketball player, I’m here to play, and yeah, this is why it’s frustrating. It’s not my job to do politics.”
