What do you consider Scott Foster after studying this?

When he was a cocksure 25-year-old, on the quick observe to officiating big-time faculty basketball, Scott Foster was summoned for a sit-down together with his dad.

They met at a bar, and his father, Dickie, introduced alongside a household good friend with expertise in high-level sports activities. They had been involved about Foster, who was mulling a daring profession transfer. It was 1992, and he had been provided a job within the Continental Basketball Affiliation, then a coaching floor for the NBA, making $95 a sport. However to take action, he must forgo his schedule — and profession path — of officiating Division I video games, which on the time had been paying him $250 a sport. His dad and good friend couldn’t see the logic of accepting much less cash, much less publicity and fewer stability.

His dad’s phrase carried quite a lot of weight, not simply with Foster, however throughout Maryland’s Montgomery County. Dickie Foster was a adorned assistant fireplace chief, an completed softball participant and the heartbeat of the frequent events on the Foster home. As individuals splashed of their pool, and his dad grilled meats, Foster says he can bear in mind being cornered by firefighters passionately telling him tales about his dad’s heroics, his dad’s management and the way a lot his dad meant to them.

“The one job cooler than a firefighter in my neighborhood rising up was Main League Baseball participant,” Foster stated. “So he was an enormous deal.”

However on today on the bar, as his dad addressed Foster’s new job supply, Dickie Foster used phrases like “pipe dream” and “one-in-a-million” and “few-and-far between.” Foster remembers his dad’s last phrases on the matter: “Not everybody may be Michael Jordan.”

“However …” Foster remembers telling his dad, “what if I’m the Michael Jordan of officiating?”

In the present day, Foster insists he stated that in jest. However it’s vital to notice that greater than 30 years later, he remembered that scene, and that line, sufficient to retell it. And it’s vital to notice that greater than 30 years later, Foster has ascended to Jordanesque stature amongst NBA referees.

The NBA employs 74 officers, and none can boast a résumé extra spectacular than Foster’s: he’s the lively profession chief in playoff video games (252, by way of Might 19), NBA Finals video games (24) and consecutive years officiating within the finals (16 and counting). As this season’s playoffs head towards the convention finals, Foster stays on the forefront with essentially the most playoff assignments.

Many followers, gamers and coaches, nevertheless, have a distinct evaluation of his work.

One NBA head coach, who requested anonymity for worry of retribution in future video games, stated he considers Foster among the many worst of NBA referees, citing his vanity, his unwillingness to pay attention and his tendency to incite, relatively than defuse, battle.

Some gamers, most notably stars Chris Paul and James Harden, have publicly criticized Foster, calling him impolite and smug whereas suggesting he holds grudges. Paul, who served because the gamers’ union president from 2013 to ’21, has gone as far to say, a number of occasions, that Foster makes his video games “private.”

And there’s an undercurrent of distrust due to Foster’s ties with Tim Donaghy, the previous NBA referee who went to jail for his involvement in a betting scandal.

The hole between how Foster is seen by some gamers and coaches, and the way the league sees him, highlights a problem that has plagued the NBA for years and sharply escalated this season: the standard and consistency of the league’s officiating. The league this season levied $765,000 in fines to gamers and coaches for criticism and/or inappropriate conduct towards officers, up from the $385,000 fined final season. Postgame information conferences are sometimes as notable for coaches’ denunciations of the referees as for commentary concerning the gamers.

Foster’s polarizing standing derives from two of his definitive traits: His accuracy in calling a sport and what’s seen as an disagreeable bedside method. It has led to a sophisticated legacy, one which confuses and pains him.

“I’d find it irresistible if I could possibly be a cross between Joe Crawford, who was a powerful referee, and Dick Bavetta, who was a beloved referee … however proper now, that’s not doable,” Foster stated.

Scott Foster (proper) celebrates together with his mother, Pam, and pa, Dickie, after working a sport as a rookie in December 1994. His dad is sporting the primary referee jacket issued to Scott. (Courtesy of Scott Foster)

Tommy Foster estimates he was 14 when he and his associates occurred upon his older brother, standing in entrance of a mirror. The neighborhood children all appeared as much as Scott, who was 4 years older. Tommy calls his oldest brother his “protector” and the “chief of the household,” however on today, the group of youngsters couldn’t consider their eyes.

There was Foster, in entrance of the mirror, practising the nuances of his newest job: basketball referee. Each time he blew his whistle, he would observe a distinct sign. (Whistle) … raised hand for a foul … (whistle) … a rolling of the arms for journey … (whistle) … rigidly inserting his arms on his hips for a blocking foul. Tommy and his associates had been gobsmacked.

“We had been like … ‘You’re a weirdo,’” Tommy stated. “‘Get out of the mirror, psycho.’”

Foster was 18, and starting to take a look at officiating as greater than only a approach to make spending cash. He first put a whistle in his mouth when he was in highschool. He coached each of his youthful brothers, Tommy and David, and a requirement on the Montgomery Rec Heart was for coaches to remain after their sport and referee the subsequent contest. He says he nonetheless remembers his first appropriate name in a kind of youth video games, a baseline drive that was disrupted by an excessive amount of contact from the defender. The sequence of blowing the whistle, elevating his fist and reporting the foul to the scorer’s desk gave him a sense of accomplishment.

“To do all that, it felt good,” Foster stated. “So I stated, ‘I wish to do that on a regular basis.’”

Looking back, Tommy says it is sensible that his oldest brother went into officiating. Ever since they had been children, Scott was the one who upheld the sanctity of the Candlewood Park neighborhood video games in Derwood, Md. Whether or not the youngsters had been taking part in Wiffle ball, soccer or basketball, Tommy stated Scott’s phrases held weight not solely as a result of he was the oldest, but additionally as a result of he was essentially the most sincere.

“I used to be a dishonest little s—,” Tommy stated. “I simply all the time wished to win. And since I used to be the youngest, I used to be all the time on my brother’s workforce. So there can be occasions like, despite the fact that I knew I solely obtained one foot in bounds on a catch (in soccer), I’d argue that I obtained each toes in. And we might go on and on, till Scott would are available and be like, ‘We’re not dishonest right here. Your guys’ ball.’ His integrity … he all the time wished to do the correct factor.”

Foster’s dedication to officiating at such an early age was constant together with his work ethic rising up. At 16, he purchased a crimson 1967 Ford pickup for $250. It had a rusted mattress, three-on-the-tree transmission and a tailgate that solely Foster knew tips on how to shut. The truck got here in useful when he took to slicing neighbors’ lawns. Quickly, he was canvasing extra prospects, and with the added earnings he purchased a trailer and extra mowers. Then he added biweekly trash disposal to his choices. Foster’s Upkeep was born. At its peak, Foster’s Upkeep had 25 residential prospects, seven banks and a memorable reprimand from the Magruder Excessive College workplace.

The varsity parking zone was as soon as plagued by rubbish, courtesy of crows that had raided Foster’s pickup mattress.

The crows ended his observe of ready till after college to dump his prospects’ trash, nevertheless it wasn’t till he was 18 that he handed the enterprise all the way down to his center brother, David, who’s three years youthful.

“It was the day I reached right into a trash can and got here out with a hand dirty by a child diaper,” Foster stated. “Later within the day, I took a load to the dump and maggots obtained throughout my legs. That was my official considered, ‘I ought to go to varsity.’”

He went to the College of Maryland and attended basketball video games at Cole Subject Home not a lot to observe the gamers however relatively the mannerisms and mechanics of legendary ACC referees Lenny Wirtz and John Moreau. He additionally went to catch glimpses of Paula, the cheerleader he would later marry. It was 1988, and as he labored highschool video games in Washington D.C., he dreamed of in the future officiating considered one of faculty basketball’s most famed matchups: Duke versus North Carolina.

Little did Foster know, however as soon as he determined to undertake a whistle as his commerce, there can be worse days forward than child diapers and maggots, and greater video games on the horizon than Duke versus North Carolina.

In his excellent world, Foster imagines being nameless. No one is aware of him, no one has even heard of him. However he misplaced that privilege in 1996, his second NBA season.

Whereas working his first nationally televised sport, Foster ejected Lakers star Magic Johnson for bumping him, incomes Johnson a three-game suspension and a $10,000 positive. Famed Lakers fan Jack Nicholson went onto the court docket and gave Foster the choke signal — two arms across the throat. Announcer Bob Costas analyzed the ejection at halftime.

“It was like Kennedy obtained assassinated once more,” Foster stated. “It was brutal. That was in all probability the primary time individuals heard my identify … nevertheless it’s not like I stated ‘Thank god, that put me on the map.’ The very last thing I wished was to be the lead on SportsCenter and CNN information.”

It was a referee’s nightmare: he had change into a part of the story.

“You by no means wish to be recognized,” Foster stated. “Everyone thinks I like the highlight, and says, ‘We didn’t come right here to see you’ and I’m like, ‘I do know. I get it. I don’t need you to come back see me. I’m not value seeing, to be sincere with you.’”

But, Foster has had a troublesome time avoiding consideration. Because the Magic ejection, he has weathered a confrontation in an area storage, an FBI investigation, two NBA investigations and a listing of what detractors say are fast technical fouls, vindictive whistles and smug indifference — all delivered with a glance as if he simply encountered one other dirty diaper.

The conflicts and confrontations have led to what Foster calls “the noise.” Criticism that he’s smug. Complaints that he refuses to speak with gamers and coaches. Insinuations that he can’t be trusted. And the insistence that he holds grudges.

He says he can deal with “the noise,” partially as a result of it’s a part of the job and partially as a result of he’s held within the highest regard by his friends. His in-game grading has yearly rated him on the prime of the career, in keeping with Monty McCutchen, the top of NBA officers. Referee Tyler Ford, in his ninth NBA season, says Foster is the “elite of the elite.” And Ashley Moyer-Gleich, in her sixth season, stated, “Scott isn’t probably the greatest. Scott is one of the best.”

Even essentially the most adorned of the career, together with retired referee Danny Crawford, who officiated in 23 consecutive NBA Finals, say Foster is outstanding.

“Scott Foster is by far one of many prime referees within the sport, if not the highest referee,” Crawford stated. “So far as his persona and other people not liking him? It’s as a result of he takes no flack. In the event you come at him in an unsportsmanlike method, you’re going to pay for it.”

As a lot as Foster says he can deal with the noise, it turned obvious throughout an prolonged interview with The Athletic that Foster has been pierced by a trident of accusations. He calls them the “Three Issues” and referenced the “Three Issues” thrice all through his interview, which was monitored by a communications official for the NBA.

Foster’s “Three Issues” are all the time in the identical order:

1. The 134 telephone calls Foster exchanged with referee Tim Donaghy throughout a seven-month span when Donaghy was betting on NBA video games and offering inside info to bookies.

2. Friction with Paul, the All-Star guard, which has included veiled accusations by Paul that Foster made issues private within the wake of a postgame encounter in 2015 with Paul’s younger son.

3. A set of nameless participant polls, one by The Los Angeles Occasions in 2016 and one by The Athletic in 2023, wherein gamers voted Foster the worst referee within the NBA. In a 2019 ballot by The Athletic, gamers voted Foster the second-worst ref behind Tony Brothers.

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“Folks wish to grasp onto the unfavourable and use three issues that discredit Scott Foster … so now, you’ll be able to take these three issues and mainly say, ‘Have a look at all this proof!’” Foster stated. “However anyone who research and appears on the variety of performs I name for this workforce, and that workforce, and the way truthful I’m … and mainly I feel each coach on this league would agree that I’ve the braveness to do what’s unpopular, however what’s hopefully proper.”

In three of the previous 4 seasons, Scott Foster has officiated solely considered one of Chris Paul’s regular-season video games. (Christian Petersen / Getty Photographs)

If Magic Johnson first put the highlight on Scott Foster in 1996, Chris Paul has made certain Foster stays underneath scrutiny.

A minimum of 4 occasions since 2018, Paul has publicly claimed that Foster is out to get him and the workforce for which he performs. Paul has voiced a wide-ranging listing of complaints — from unprovoked technicals in 2019, to Foster allegedly making inappropriate feedback earlier than a 2020 playoff sport, to declaring in 2021 that he had misplaced 11 consecutive playoffs video games wherein Foster officiated (a streak that may attain 13 earlier than it resulted in 2023). Additionally, in November, Foster ejected Paul with consecutive technicals at Phoenix. After the sport, Paul stated Foster years in the past was concerned in an incident together with his son, Chris Paul Jr.

“We had a scenario some years in the past, and it’s private,” Paul stated in November. “The league is aware of, all people is aware of, and it’s been a gathering and all that. It’s a scenario with my son.”

The strain stems from an incident on April 28, 2015. That evening, Foster officiated Recreation 5 of the first-round playoff sequence between Paul’s Clippers and the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs received 111-107. Though Paul was given a technical within the fourth quarter, it was issued by Josh Tiven, and the sport didn’t characteristic any egregious benefit from a foul or free throw standpoint.

The Spurs had been whistled for 5 extra fouls than the Clippers, and the Clippers tried 5 extra free throws. Of the 59 fouls known as within the sport, Foster whistled 23, Tiven 21 and Invoice Kennedy 15. Of Foster’s calls, 12 went towards the Clippers, together with two of Paul’s three private fouls.

After the sport, Don Vaden, then the NBA’s director of officers, loaded into an SUV with the officiating crew. Vaden stated Paul noticed them stepping into the automotive, and as Foster began the car to drive out of the world, Paul positioned himself in the midst of the exit lane, blocking their departure. As he did this, Paul turned his again to the automotive whereas holding the hand of his 5-year-old son.

As Foster idled, uncertain what to do, Vaden stated he summoned a safety guard to ask Paul to maneuver. Because the safety guard was speaking to Paul, Foster tapped his horn, and Paul acted shocked earlier than transferring to the aspect.

“I obtained dwelling the subsequent day and was advised there have been accusations made that I did one thing unprofessional,” Foster stated. “The NBA did an investigation and located there was nothing discovered that wanted to be mentioned or anyone talked to. And that was the tip of that.”

Did he ever say one thing to Paul’s son?

“Noooo,” Foster stated.

Was there any interplay in any respect with the son?

“Nope.”

The incident remained delicate sufficient {that a} assembly was arrange the next season, within the spring on the Clippers’ observe facility. In attendance had been Foster, Paul, Paul’s father, then-Clippers coach Doc Rivers and Bob Delaney, a former referee who had moved into NBA administration overseeing officers. Delaney couldn’t be reached by The Athletic.

Paul has thrice referenced the assembly in interviews, and in April, when requested by The Athletic about specifics concerning the assembly, Paul declined to elaborate. He repeated that as an lively participant, he was unable to say something about Foster, citing the worry of a positive or retaliation from Foster’s colleagues.

“I gotta wait … I can’t say nothing,” Paul stated.

Foster acknowledged that he was current on the 2016 assembly and took part within the dialogue with Paul, Paul’s father and Rivers.

“I used to be advised that assembly was non-public, and that it might keep non-public eternally, and that’s what I’m sticking to,” Foster stated. “The truth that individuals learn about it’s too unhealthy. I feel it was a good suggestion. There was in all probability a small honeymoon interval or one thing like that, and I feel it helped so far as making an attempt one thing.”

No matter occurred within the assembly, it didn’t resolve the strain.

Within the 2017 playoffs, because the buzzer sounded after Paul’s Clippers misplaced Recreation 5 to Utah, Paul faked throwing the ball at Foster, inflicting Foster to flinch together with his arms and legs. Foster stated he has no recollection of the incident.

One yr later, Paul would be a part of Houston, and his clashes with Foster would comply with.

Throughout a January 2018 sport towards Portland, Paul was whistled for a foul by Foster, then approached referee Courtney Kirkland, saying, “That’s Scott … that’s Scott …” Foster overheard the remark and gave him a technical foul.

“Scott Foster at his best … simply … by no means fails,” Paul advised reporters whereas shaking his head. Later he added, “There’s historical past there. However that’s Scott, , he ‘The Man.’ That’s who they pay to see.”

The subsequent season, Paul and Rockets teammate James Harden complained about Foster after a 111-106 loss on the Lakers, wherein each fouled out. Of the six fouls administered to every participant, Foster known as two on Harden and two on Paul. Foster additionally gave Paul and Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni technical fouls with 33 seconds remaining.

“Scott Foster, man,” Harden stated after the sport. “I by no means speak concerning the officiating, however simply impolite and smug. I imply, you aren’t capable of speak to him all through the course of a sport, and it’s like how do you construct that relationship with officers?”

When requested if he thought Foster was making it private, Harden was emphatic.

“Yeah, for certain,” he stated. “For certain it’s private. For certain. Like, I don’t assume he ought to even have the ability to officiate our video games anymore, actually.”

Paul was extra reserved however exasperated.

“Uh, I imply, I don’t know what else to do,” Paul advised reporters. “Met with the league with him earlier than and all these things … I don’t know what else to do.”

Foster insists the general public criticism from Paul, Harden or any participant doesn’t have an effect on the way in which he calls video games. All through questions on Paul, Foster was reserved and composed, and his voice by no means modified in quantity or octave.

“I hoped all this might all go away that day, the day of the assembly,” Foster stated.

In 2020, Paul alluded that Foster made an inappropriate remark to him earlier than his Recreation 7 playoff sport. ESPN reported that Paul stated Foster made a degree to inform him he refereed his final Recreation 7, a loss when Paul was with New Orleans in 2008.

Foster remembers the interplay otherwise.

“Throughout that season I had, in my thoughts, discovered some frequent floor, and fairly good interplay between the 2 of us,” Foster stated. “And in an try to additional construct a bridge and discover frequent floor, I discussed to Chris previous to the sport that my first Recreation 7 I ever labored was that sport (in 2008). The dialog appeared like a pleasing alternate among the many two of us. I figured all Recreation 7s are one thing to recollect and cherish, and I simply shared that was the primary I ever labored.”

What Foster says bothers him greater than something is the social-media narrative constructed by “the individuals with the stats” who’ve tried to “construct a case” that Foster is towards Paul. Paul’s groups are 4-18 in playoff video games refereed by Foster; 3-17 in video games Paul performed. Paul is 73-56 in playoff video games not officiated by Foster.

“I went again and tried to determine a few of these video games,” Foster stated. “Like, one was a sport in New Orleans, I feel they had been taking part in Denver, they usually lose by like 50 (it was 121-63). Like, in what world can you place that on me?

“I imply, actually? In what world can you place that on me?’

NBA referee Ashley Moyer-Gleich, pictured with Foster (left) and Curtis Blair, says: “Scott isn’t probably the greatest. Scott is one of the best.” (Gary Bassing / NBAE through Getty Photographs)

Participant and/or workforce feuds with referees are a part of NBA lore.

Scottie Pippen insisted Hue Hollins was out to get him. Clyde Drexler and Jake O’Donnell had been so frosty that O’Donnell as soon as refused to shake arms. Tim Duncan accused Joey Crawford of difficult him to a combat. And Danny Crawford stated, “Dallas used to hate my guts,” as a result of the Mavericks as soon as misplaced 16 of 17 playoff video games he officiated (Dallas was 6-17 in playoffs officiated by Crawford).

“Each period has the referee who all people hates,” stated former NBA referee Invoice Spooner, who retired in 2020 after 32 seasons. “However guess what? They’re those working the massive video games. Earl Strom, Jake (O’Donnell), Joey Crawford … all people hated these guys. Similar with Scott. But when it’s an enormous sport, and the league desires any person to run the sport, Scott goes to be on it. As a result of he’s a rattling good referee.”

The most recent chapter between Foster and Paul — when Paul was ejected in a November sport towards the Phoenix Suns — is notable as a result of it was the final time the NBA assigned Foster to a sport involving Paul’s Warriors. Foster officiated 61 common season video games this season and known as the video games of all 30 groups, together with some groups as many as seven occasions, and a few groups as many as six occasions. Golden State is the one workforce Foster officiated as soon as.

It’s the third time prior to now 4 seasons that Foster has officiated solely considered one of Paul’s regular-season video games. Within the 4 seasons prior, Foster refereed Paul a median of 4 video games per common season, together with six in 2017-18.

McCutchen, the league official who oversees referees, acknowledged the friction between Paul and Foster, however he stated he would by no means deliberately hold a referee away from a workforce due to battle.

“Anytime there’s some high-level rigidity, we give it some respiratory room,” McCutchen stated. “We don’t have a set time on that. What I can let you know is I didn’t inform our scheduler, ‘Don’t give Scott Foster any extra Golden State video games.’ That I can let you know. If I didn’t belief to assign a referee to a workforce or a participant, then we shouldn’t keep away from assigning them to that workforce, we should always fireplace that referee. As a result of in case you can’t assign each referee with confidence due to an integrity query, then these referees needs to be fired.”

McCutchen stated the 144-day hole of Foster final working a Golden State sport is just not uncommon. He cited 34 cases this season of an official having 144 or extra days between working a workforce. He additionally stated of 16 crew chiefs, 10 this season both noticed a workforce one or zero occasions. He stated if the Warriors had made the playoffs, “Scott would have seen Golden State.”

Foster stated he merely goes the place he’s advised.

“Clearly, I observed I didn’t return (to a Warriors sport),” Foster stated. “However there’s been numerous years that I don’t return to locations. However I’m not naive sufficient to assume that there wasn’t some motive, purpose.”

The three former referees interviewed for this text, every not underneath the watchful eye of the league, word that the Paul-Foster feud has been narrated from one aspect. The NBA largely restricts officers from chatting with the media, so the one vantage of the battle, they declare, has been by way of Paul’s lens.

Spooner, the retired ref with 32 years within the league, stated he thinks Paul has been constructing a calculated marketing campaign towards Foster.

“I’m going to let you know, and I do know you might be recording me, however I get requested on a regular basis: ‘Who’re a few of the powerful guys, a few of the unhealthy guys?’ And once I inform them that Chris Paul, in my 32 years within the league, was one of many largest a–holes I ever handled, they are saying, ‘Not Rasheed Wallace … or da-da-da?’ Nope. Nothing like (Paul),” Spooner stated. “And they’re like, ‘Oh, he looks like such a pleasant man.’ And I say, ‘Yeah, he’s an important picture cultivator.’”

Foster stated he has tried to evaluation how he comes throughout when he levies fouls and technicals. He stated he has by no means been reprimanded by the NBA, however he and McCutchen famous the 2 have had discussions about his physique language and the way his demonstrative and authoritative methods are obtained by coaches and gamers.

“One of many issues we train round right here is that calling a technical foul needs to be the identical factor as calling a journey, or a forearm examine. We now have a normal,” McCutchen stated. “If you’re ever giving a technical foul with the concept that ‘no one talks to me that manner’ … this has nothing to do with you. The NBA has a normal of what’s a very good or not a very good technical foul. It’s essential we maintain individuals to that customary … Scott has actually grown to making use of the usual now.”

Whereas Foster has his detractors amongst NBA coaches and gamers, he additionally has the respect of others. Chauncey Billups has skilled Foster from two views: as a Corridor of Fame participant throughout his 17-year profession and as Portland’s head coach for the previous three seasons.

“I feel Scott is a superb official,” Billups stated. “He’s not going to place up with any s—. He’s an old-school man in the way in which that I like officers, like Joey Crawford, Steve Javie … they aren’t going to take nothing, whether or not you’re the finest participant or a participant up from the G League. It’s the identical respect given. So I’ve all the time revered that about him.”

Billups stated he thinks what hurts Foster is his physique language and his pure affectation. Billups stated Foster typically appears aggravated or in a foul temper, and famous he not often, if ever, smiles. It took years for him to conclude that it’s simply Foster’s pure look.

“In the event you don’t know him, it appears like there’s a stage of vanity with him,” Billups stated. “And I’m not going to let you know that I do know him nicely, however I’ve been in sufficient video games with him to know that’s not the case. It’s his look (he chuckles) … critically, although. However in case you don’t know, and you’ve got social media out right here, and also you have a look at him, you’ll be able to simply run with that narrative that he’s indignant and smug. He’s not.”

Spooner stated he and different referees teased Foster about his take-no-flack fame. He remembers listening to Darell Garretson, the previous head of referees, telling the troops that they want to have the ability to undertake a distinct persona when on the ground.

“Garretson would say, ‘You must be keen to go from zero to a—gap in a heartbeat,’” Spooner stated. “And I used to joke, ‘Effectively, you’ve obtained that half down, Scott.’”

Some unease about Foster goes past his temperament. One participant who simply accomplished his sixth NBA season, and who requested anonymity for worry of violating the league’s coverage on criticizing officers, stated Foster’s friendship with Donaghy, and the 134 telephone calls exchanged between the 2, is introduced up amongst gamers. They surprise if Foster was concerned within the betting scandal.

“There’s hypothesis about that,” the participant stated.

This season, that hypothesis was on show courtesy of Minnesota heart Rudy Gobert. He was fined after an everyday season sport in March and once more within the playoffs for making a gesture after being known as for a foul: rubbing his forefingers to his thumb, insinuating that cash is on the road. In each video games, Foster was crew chief.

“I wouldn’t say it offends me, nevertheless it positively impacts me, the place I’m going, ‘Wow, man. Like actually?’” Foster stated of Gobert’s gesture. “I imply, come on. That’s not what we’re about. You’ve obtained to be kidding me you assume that. I simply assume that has change into a logo of disrespect, or a manner you disrespect an official.”

However there it’s. For everybody to see. The No. 1 factor of the “Three Issues.”

“I speak till I’m blue within the face, and both individuals are going to consider me, or they don’t,” Foster stated.

The voice on the phone is uneasy, and reluctant to speak. It’s a voice from Scott Foster’s previous, a voice with which Foster not communicates.

“Does he know that you simply had been calling me?” Tim Donaghy requested. “How come the NBA is letting you do a narrative on him? They normally don’t permit that …”

Earlier than Donaghy served a jail sentence for his position in a playing scheme, he was associates with Foster. Shut associates.

“We had been like brothers,” Donaghy stated.

In 2003, Donaghy named Foster the godfather of his daughter, Molly. Shortly after, Foster named Donaghy the godfather of his oldest son, Kyle.

In the present day, Donaghy stated he has misplaced contact together with his godson. And he has not spoken to Foster since 2007 when Donaghy knew he was about to be arrested and known as Foster to inform him he couldn’t play in a golf event.

Donaghy had positioned bets on NBA video games, together with ones wherein he officiated, and had offered confidential info, equivalent to participant accidents and referee assignments, to bookies. Donaghy pleaded responsible to 2 felonies: conspiracy to commit wire fraud by denying his employer the intangible proper to sincere providers and conspiracy to transmit wagering info.

Foster turned publicly embroiled within the controversy in 2008 when it was reported that he and Donaghy exchanged 134 telephone calls throughout the time Donaghy was working together with his co-conspirators. Lots of the calls lasted not than two minutes and had been positioned within the hours earlier than or after video games, and a few of the calls had been made shortly earlier than or after Donaghy spoke to considered one of his co-conspirators.

In August 2007, the FBI contacted Foster and interviewed him over the telephone.

“I bear in mind having a dialog with one of many FBI brokers, they usually stated they turned his life the wrong way up,” Donaghy stated of Foster. “They usually really felt unhealthy for all the things he went by way of, simply because he was related to me. It clearly didn’t look good, the telephone calls didn’t look good, however I can simply let you know Scott wasn’t concerned in any manner, form or type. I don’t care what anyone says. I do know the true story.”

Whereas the FBI was investigating Foster, the NBA employed former federal prosecutor Lawrence Pedowitz and his regulation agency to conduct a evaluation of the league’s officiating. The Pedowitz report was 133 pages, with seven dedicated to Foster. Pedowitz famous that throughout the 14-month investigation, Foster offered telephone data from December 2006 by way of June 2008.

In his report, Pedowitz stated Foster and Donaghy exchanged 170 telephone calls throughout the timeframe of Donaghy’s involvement together with his co-conspirators. Pedowitz additionally reported he discovered that quantity wasn’t uncommon amongst NBA referees.

“That’s how we communicated in 2007,” Foster stated. “Anytime any person desires to discredit me, or query my integrity, they draw this conclusion from this 134-phone-call article… and it’s like, ‘That’s the proof!’ There isn’t any proof. As a result of it didn’t occur. In the present day, when individuals hear anyone known as somebody 134 occasions, it’s like ‘Wow! That’s bizarre.’ As a result of it’s bizarre. I didn’t have textual content messaging in 2007. I had a Motorola Razor, which in case you wished to textual content ‘Sure’ in a textual content message it was 23 keystrokes or one thing loopy like that.”

In conclusion, the Pedowitz report stated Foster’s telephone data “don’t in our view increase issues about his integrity.”

Donaghy was sentenced to fifteen months in jail, however Foster stated he looks like he’s the one serving a jail sentence.

“I by no means, ever stated I wasn’t associates with Tim Donaghy. I used to be,” Foster stated. “However I would like everybody to know I had no concept what was occurring. (After Donaghy was arrested) it was the bottom morale of our employees, the bottom morale of my life. I misplaced a good friend who I haven’t spoken to since then, not out of something apart from … that’s simply how unhealthy it was.”

Donaghy, who served 11 months, now resides in Florida, the place he lives off the lease from 15 properties he purchased in 2008 and 2009. He says he nonetheless watches the NBA, and he turns into unhappy when he sees Foster.

“One in all my largest regrets is that me and him had been very, very shut,” Donaghy stated. “It’s upsetting to me figuring out he’s getting quite a lot of s— due to what our relationship was on the time. So, that’s powerful … simply powerful once I take into consideration that relationship. I wasn’t going to name you again, however I’m hoping in some unspecified time in the future, when Scott steps away, we are able to speak. And I can apologize to him. You by no means know, perhaps that friendship may be pieced again collectively. I’m unsure.”

Foster has officiated 24 NBA Finals video games, greater than some other lively referee. (Jesse D. Garrabrant / NBAE through Getty Photographs)

As his flight was getting ready to depart Boston on Might 8, Foster bolted to the aircraft toilet. He wanted to cry.

By nature, Foster is just not emotional, not to mention a crier. The final time he was moved to tears was earlier than the 2023-24 season when the NBA referees gathered at their annual referee preseason assembly at a Brooklyn resort.

Each occasions, he cried for a similar purpose: his father.

On the referees assembly, Foster was on digicam for a promotional video about NBA referees receiving their white jacket, a memento given to officers once they work the Finals. The jackets are the holy grail of officiating. Foster has 16 of them, and what introduced him to tears was remembering the primary one.

It was such a cherished reminiscence, that summer season day in 2008 when Foster returned from Recreation 5 of the Celtics-Lakers Finals and walked all the way down to his father’s Ocean Metropolis, Md., seashore home with the jacket. For Foster, that first jacket represented a triumph in perseverance, a recognition of excellence, and it got here on the heels of the Donaghy investigation, when he was at his lowest. When he offered his father the jacket, he advised him he couldn’t have performed it with out him. Within the following years, Dickie Foster wore the white jacket nearly each time he left the home.

That reminiscence for Foster had change into heavy. His father was battling dementia, and Foster knew his situation meant the 2 would by no means share a second like that once more. Because the cameras had been rolling, he began bawling.

Now, eight months later, he was within the aircraft lavatory, shedding it once more.

Round 3 a.m., within the hours after he officiated Boston’s victory over the Cavaliers in Recreation 1, Foster realized his father had died. Dickie Foster was 79.

He thought he was ready for the second. It had been years since his dad was the colourful, exuberant, friend-to-all, the one with a relentless smile and unmistakable stomach chortle. He repeated to Foster within the final couple of years that he was sorry for changing into a burden. Foster assured him he wasn’t.

Later that morning, as he known as his dad’s associates, all of them had the identical response: sorrow however reduction. Then, as Foster sat on the aircraft and delivered the information to considered one of his dad’s former softball teammates — “the best man in my dad’s group of buddies” — the teammate began crying uncontrollably. Foster needed to beeline to the lavatory to cover his feelings.

Foster started to surprise if he would have the ability to compose himself for his project the subsequent day — Dallas at Oklahoma Metropolis. In homage to his father, Foster stated lacking the sport was by no means a thought or an choice. His dad typically boasted he by no means missed a day of labor on the fireplace division.

“My dad would have been actually upset with me if he knew I did that due to his passing,” Foster stated.

As he stood for the nationwide anthem earlier than Recreation 2 in Oklahoma Metropolis, Foster went by way of his regular routine: saying a prayer for all his household and associates who’ve handed (his mom died in 2016). He stated he was nervous he would break down in entrance of a full area.

However then he remembered one thing his father all the time preached. Years in the past, his father turned enthralled with “The Treasured Current,” a brief story by Spencer Johnson. The story illustrates the worth of discovering happiness and contentment by residing within the second. His father through the years distributed dozens of copies to family and friends, and hung an indication on his porch that learn “Treasured Current.”

Foster blocked all of it out … the noise … the three issues … his father’s passing. He targeted on the current.

When the anthem completed, Foster was composed and within the second. He was proper the place he envisioned that day together with his dad on the bar, so a few years in the past. He was within the NBA, at an enormous sport, with a whistle in his mouth. He was on the prime of the sport.

(Photograph illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; picture: Bart Younger / NBAE through Getty Photographs)