Every NBA game must have three referees. It’s been a constant in the league for years and years.
But what goes into the selection process behind which referees are assigned to each game?
While it may not be an exact science, there is a big difference in the experience level for less established teams in smaller markets like the Portland Trail Blazers and some of the more established teams in larger markets like the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors.
In fact, in a chart created and tweeted by Basketball Illuminati podcast host Tom Haberstroh, the Lakers and Warriors receive the “best” referees in their games.