INDIANAPOLIS — Newly inducted Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Joey Crawford believes the growing use of replay challenge systems across professional sports is improving officiating by making referees answerable for critical calls.
Speaking Saturday after entering the Hall, the former NBA referee said he now fully supports the technology, which allows coaches, players or teams to contest on-court or on-field decisions.
“You’re paid to get the plays right,” Crawford said. “The key is not to blow that whistle and guess. You’ve got to know that it happened.”
Challenges gaining ground in major leagues
Major League Baseball introduced its automated ball-strike (ABS) system this season, giving each club two unsuccessful challenges per game. The NBA adopted a coach’s challenge in 2019, the NHL in 2015 and the NFL in 1999.
Crawford, who officiated in the NBA from 1977 to 2016 and still works with the league to support officials, admitted he was skeptical at first but changed his view after recalling sleepless nights caused by missed calls. “I initially didn’t [like the system], but now I just love it,” he said.
Handling criticism and “superstar” calls
One of the league’s most recognizable and controversial referees during his career, Crawford said public perception often weighed on him. “I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me,” he noted, adding that scrutiny was heightened when mistakes involved star players. “The best player has the ball at the end of the game, so if you’re going to make a mistake, you’re usually making a mistake on that best player.”
Despite past controversies, Crawford emphasized that officials, like players and coaches, are judged on performance. “We train referees and they’re very, very good. They’re going to make mistakes. It’s all the same thing,” he said.
Source: ESPN
