LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 11: ESPN sports analyst and former NBA player Richard Jefferson gives the ball to Jericho Sims #45 of the New York Knicks for a free throw attempt as Jefferson officiates the second quarter of a game between the Knicks and the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2022 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 11, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jefferson attended daily NBA Summer League officiating meetings while in Las Vegas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Twitter roasts ESPN during Richard Jefferson’s officiating debut in Knicks summer league game
The New York Knicks had a late tip on Monday night against the Portland Trail Blazers. Those who stayed up to catch the 11 p.m. game had to not only endure Richard Jefferson making his officiating debut in the second quarter, but also a 88-77 loss. Tough.
For the 10-minute quarter, ESPN had a split-screen with Monty McCutchen, the Senior Vice President of Referee Development and Training. The main focus of the quarter wasn’t the Knicks-Trail Blazers game, but instead every move that Jefferson made. He forgot to put his hand up on a 3-point attempt and the broadcast mentioned it every 10 seconds.
As if that wasn’t enough, ESPN brought on Mark Jackson during the fourth quarter. You can guess what the main topic of discussion was. It was relentless for the whole night, even in the first quarter.
Twitter reacts to Richard Jefferson’s officiating debut during Knicks-Blazers game
New York finished the first quarter with a 24-9 lead but went into the half down by one. What happened? Richard Jefferson (and some bad basketball on the Knicks’ part).
But you know that fans were letting him hear it.
In that clip, the ball went out on New York, but Jefferson said that it was the Knicks’ ball. He ended up getting corrected.
Shortly after, Jericho Sims had a crafty transition move, throwing in a Euro step and getting an and-1. Instead of taking the time to talk about what just happened in the basketball game (you know, the main event), the broadcast instead addressed Jefferson’s foul call technique.
Yes, that really happened.
But if you were smart enough, you put the game on mute because it wasn’t about the basketball that was being played on the floor but about Jefferson.
To top it all off, Jorge Sedano said in the third quarter that Knicks fans may not want to hear it, but that they should embrace the youth movement. Where has he been? Fans have lost their voices screaming at Tom Thibodeau to “PLAY THE KIDS!!”
In all honesty, having Jefferson officiate a quarter of basketball wasn’t a bad idea, but ESPN went overboard and turned it into a joke. There’s a time and a place, and it wasn’t the time, nor the place.
