Former NBAer, Wildcat Richard Jefferson officiates quarter of Summer League game
Jul 12, 2022, 7:29 AM | Updated: 7:32 am
As if an 18-year career in the NBA wasn’t enough time on the court for former player and ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson, he found his way back on the hardwood on Monday night.
It wasn’t the typical basketball uniform the former Arizona Wildcat was accustomed to wearing during his playing days, however.
Jefferson officiated the second quarter of the Summer League contest between the New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers after attending daily NBA Summer League officiating meetings this past week in Las Vegas.
Why do this?
1. Tremendous amount of knowledge about our game that I’ve learned sitting in classes with the best refs in the world
2.I do this because not many people would dare put themselves in this position. The more info I have the more informed I am as a broadcaster 🫡— Richard Jefferson (@Rjeff24) July 11, 2022
The NBA veteran and current analyst saw the opportunity as a chance to even further his knowledge of the game.
It’s been a long 10 days! pic.twitter.com/j8wF6FJJKg
— Richard Jefferson (@Rjeff24) July 11, 2022
.@Rjeff24 is set to make his referee debut 😀👏 pic.twitter.com/v4UM5gm8lB
— ESPN (@espn) July 12, 2022
"This is fun. I can see why this is addicting."@Rjeff24 was mic'd up during his NBA referee debut 👏😅 pic.twitter.com/tZOwvynP4q
— ESPN (@espn) July 12, 2022
With his first chance to make a call, Jefferson made one against the Knicks but would end up reversing the call.
Knicks fans were not a fan of @Rjeff24's first NBA call 😅
🎥 @ClutchPointsApppic.twitter.com/WncmW0rw0P
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) July 12, 2022
.@Rjeff24 changed his first-ever call as an NBA official 😅 pic.twitter.com/F9ffWzUs79
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 12, 2022
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The internet, of course, had a lot of fun with Jefferson joining the “dark side” and becoming an official.
And with the game being against the Knicks, with most of Jefferson’s playing days being in New Jersey with the Nets, made things even more interesting.
Really @Rjeff24? Really? Of all the teams you could’ve picked to officiate it had to be a damn @Knicks. See…….this is why I can’t be around you, man!😀😀😀 https://t.co/JeYughEVai
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 11, 2022
a legendary summer league performance by @Rjeff24 pic.twitter.com/FqHHz2kk9U
— SB Nation (@SBNation) July 12, 2022
richard jefferson when it’s time to ref the 2nd quarter of a summer league game pic.twitter.com/CdmIZTlqfk
— buckets (@buckets) July 11, 2022
Jefferson even heard it from Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau, who was sitting courtside taking in the Summer League game.
Thibs heckling Richard Jefferson pic.twitter.com/MQHVHkD3ub
— CJ Fogler AKA Perc70 #BlackLivesMatter (@cjzero) July 12, 2022
Richard Jefferson perfectly looks the part for being a ref 😂 pic.twitter.com/06Ln2nUXcu
— Brooklyn Netcast (@BrooklynNetcast) July 12, 2022
