Veteran NBA Ref Takes Bloody Shot to the Nose During Jump Ball: 'I'm Surprised This Doesn't Happen More Often'

Veteran NBA referee Scott Foster was inadvertently responsible for a hold of crippled during nan Western Conference Finals.

Foster, 58, suffered a bloody chemoreceptor aft he unexpectedly came betwixt nan shot and an Oklahoma City Thunder player’s limb during a jump shot conscionable astir 90 seconds into nan crippled connected Thursday, May 22.

During nan unexpected moment, nan Thunder’s Luguentz Dort and nan Minnesota Timberwolves’ Julius Randle swiped astatine nan ball, pinch Dort’s manus coming down crossed Foster’s face. Randle besides accidentally kicked Foster connected nan play.

“I’m amazed this doesn’t hap much often, arsenic he gets whacked successful nan look inadvertently,” ESPN's Mike Breen said during nan broadcast, while offering viewers play-by-play of nan replay.

As players looked on, Foster was attended to connected nan sidelines and nan crippled was delayed.

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The ref returned to nan crippled and play resumed moments later — but those watching couldn’t get complete nan improbable contact. "Scott will beryllium razzed connected this that he can't return a punch," ESPN’s rules expert Steve Javie, who is simply a erstwhile ref, said.

Foster, who has officiated successful nan NBA since 1994, has often been nan unwanted halfway of attention. The ref is jokingly referred to arsenic “The Extender” owed to his effect connected games successful which a trailing squad successful a bid often wins games.

Foster has besides faced allegations of calling games to power sports betting.

Last season, the charismatic had a run-in pinch different Timberwolves player. During a crippled successful March 2024, Rudy Gobert rubbed his fingers together successful a money motion successful Foster’s direction, implying that his calls were influencing nan game.

Gobert was fined $100,000 for his behavior.