The ex-NBA star was a referee for Knicks - Blazers.
The former 17-year NBA pro wanted to learn more about basketball to help him in his broadcast career.
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Richard Jefferson made his debut as an NBA referee last night during the Knicks-Blazers Summer League Game.
"I do this because not many people would dare put themselves in this position. "I guess no one up top has ever heard Richard Jefferson during any Knicks discussion lol… Twitter Tweet Unavailable
ESPN analyst and former hooper Richard Jefferson suited up for an NBA Summer League game in an unfamiliar uniform on Monday night.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter)July 12, 2022 — ESPN (@espn)July 12, 2022 I can see why this is addicting." "This is fun. — ESPN (@espn)July 12, 2022 — Richard Jefferson (@Rjeff24)July 11, 2022
NBA analyst Richard Jefferson officiated a quarter of the Knicks-Trail Blazers NBA 2K23 Summer League game in Las Vegas.
“It’s been amazing because I love the game of basketball,” Jefferson said. Jefferson went to officiating meetings to prepare for the cameo role and weighed in on the experience at halftime of the game. The more info I have, the more informed I am as a broadcaster.” I just respect them because I know their importance to our game and to the integrity to our game.” The NBA put Jefferson to work to get him ready. I have such a tremendous amount of respect for the referees, how important they are to the game and I’ve always treated every single one of them as such.
A referee's debut isn't normally a big deal, but if you watched Knicks vs. Blazers in the Summer League on Monday night you got to see something special.
You gotta respect the man for trying to hone his craft at a time nobody really asked him, or expected him to. Richard Jefferson, who played for eight teams over his 18 year career and won a championship with the Cavaliers in 2016, decided to try his hand at refereeing. Blazers in the Summer League on Monday night you got to see something special.
The former 17-year NBA pro wanted to learn more about basketball to help him in his broadcast career.
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Richard Jefferson attempted to be a referee for a quarter of a Summer League game, and the NBA world was thoroughly entertained.
Him being a referee is going to be hilarious!https://t.co/ckFKSvodVg Hoping this begins to change some of the narrative towards officiating. “I would love that.” — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter)July 12, 2022 “Why do this?” Jefferson asked on Twitter. “1. Tremendous amount of knowledge about our game that I’ve learned sitting in classes. But he got to experience the game of basketball in a completely new way on Monday night.