NBA commissioner breaks silence on Chris Paul-Scott Foster feud
Chris Paul and Scott Foster recently made headlines when the veteran referee ejected Paul following a verbal altercation during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Golden State Warriors lost that game. Speaking to the media shortly after the final buzzer, Paul revealed his icy relationship with Foster is due to a long-standing personal issue. He also noted the NBA is aware of their dispute.
Recently, NBA commissioner Adam Silver shared his thoughts on the incident and the feud between the two veterans during an interview on Sirius XM NBA Radio.
"Two veterans who are the best at what they do," Silver said. "Scott is one of the highest-rated NBA officials, which is why he referees our finals games. Of course, Chris his track record speaks for itself. The way you handle that is the way we've tried to handle that, by talking to both of them and saying the expectation is that you're going to be professional...Whatever the bad blood is between you two, you don't have to be friends, but you have to go out and do your jobs. That's my expectation."
A game official is supposed to be impartial. There shouldn't be any preconceived notions or opinions heading into a contest between two teams. Yes, Paul was at fault for his actions with Foster during the Timberwolves game, but there has to be a level of parity. If Foster is talking back, ejecting that player is unwarranted because both parties had a hand in the escalation.
Yes, the NBA needs to support its officials. They have a tough job and undoubtedly deal with a lot during the heat of the moment. However, they also need to support the players who draw in a crowd and sell the product around the world. If Foster and Paul are unable to get along, there should be a conscious effort to keep them apart throughout the season.
NBA fans won't want the pair to engage in more debates and arguments in the future. It's better for everybody when Paul is in the Warriors rotation. Asking both Paul and Foster to focus on doing their jobs is the logical approach; whether that works out or we end up back in the same position down the line is the million dollar question.
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