NBA Finals Officiating Announcement
In a significant announcement from the NBA, Scott Foster has been appointed to officiate the NBA Finals for the 18th time, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most experienced referees in the league. The announcement, which occurred on Tuesday, also revealed a group of 12 referees along with two alternate officials who will oversee the highly anticipated championship series featuring the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Experienced Officiating Crew
Foster stands out as the senior official in this elite selection, but he’s not alone in terms of experience. Tony Brothers and Marc Davis will each take part in their 14th Finals, while James Capers enters in his 13th. Zach Zarba has earned his spot for the 12th time and John Goble joins for his ninth appearance. This year, David Guthrie is making his eighth trip to the Finals, with Josh Tiven officiating for the sixth, James Williams for the fifth, and Sean Wright marking his second Finals selection.
A notable highlight of this year’s officiating crew is the inclusion of two first-time officials: Tyler Ford and Ben Taylor. Previously, both acted as alternates for the past two seasons, making their selection a significant career milestone. The officiating team will be supported by alternates Courtney Kirkland and Kevin Scott.
Comments from NBA Leadership
Byron Spruell, the NBA’s President for League Operations, expressed his gratitude towards the officiating team, stating,
“We are grateful for these 12 individuals and their dedication to serving the game at the highest levels throughout the season. Being selected to work the NBA Finals is the top honor as an NBA official, and I congratulate this exceptional group on a worthy achievement.”
Officiating Experience Statistics
Currently, Scott Foster leads all referees in terms of Finals games officiated, having worked 25 in total. Brothers follows closely with 21 games, while Davis is at 17. In accordance with traditional protocols, each of the 12 officials is expected to work one of the initial four games of the series as part of a standard three-person officiating crew. Should the series extend beyond Game 4, the NBA will continue to assign officials from this group as needed.
The selection was based on the officials’ performances throughout the playoff rounds, with evaluations conducted by the NBA Referee Operations management after each completed round. Regular updates about the officiating crews for each game will be made public around 9 a.m. Eastern on the days when games are scheduled.
