Washington Wizards: Breaking Down John Wall's Beef With NBA Referees

Washington Wizards guard John Wall has been racking up technical fouls this season and ranted about NBA referees after a loss to the Utah Jazz.

Referees, as imperfect beings, are going to blow calls.

Recently, John Wall ranted about the way the Washington Wizards‘ loss to the Utah Jazz was officiated, citing the lack of calls his team got from the officials.

In that game, Wall picked up his 15th technical foul. Now he’s one technical away from being fined and missing a game without pay.

The fine won’t hurt Wall, but missing a game could swing the playoff standings away from the Wizards’ favor, who’ve slipped to fourth in the standings.

Although Wall has become a bonafide superstar, he doesn’t get the love others seem to get from the officials. Wall has taken an old-school approach to the game, rarely flopping to get the ref’s attention.

Other superstars, like James Harden, for instance, have added that to their skill-sets. Harden has become so good, in fact, that he’s drawn more fouls on threes than any NBA team.

More from Wiz of Awes

Everyone can clearly see he’s jumping into the defender to draw contact, but the whistle goes his way.

Wall’s reputation precedes him

Wall, perhaps, doesn’t get the love that Harden gets because he’s earned a reputation regarding his temperament.

He’s been one of the league’s leaders in technical fouls this season, making it difficult for the referees to blow their whistles when he gets bumped on the way to the rim.

When a no-call happens, Wall tends to lash out against the refs, making his displeasure known.

Naturally, the referees will begin to favor players who don’t complain, even if they’re doing it unintentionally.

There should be fair play

Wall, however, still has a point.

Regardless of whether or not he’s a ref’s favorite, a foul should be called if it’s indeed a foul.

The referees should go into each game cold, giving every player a clean slate, and judge the game before them – not on past behavior.

In other words, don’t prejudge, but look at the play at hand, not the player’s behavior from a past game.

The actions of the players should determine the outcome of the game, putting the referees aside.

More from Wiz of Awes

The referees’ missed calls shouldn’t swing the pendulum in another team’s favor.

It’s unfair to the players and unfair to the fans who want to watch a fair game of basketball

Wall’s toughness hurts him

Wall is aggressive when he drives to the basket, and more often than not, gets knocked down on the way.

Yet, because of his toughness, and his ability to get back up and race down the other end of the court, the referees appear to believe no harm no foul.

We’re not talking about ticky-tack fouls, but where other players actually body Wall. Thus, Wall’s ability to play through the pain actually hurts him.

Nonetheless, the arbitrariness in officiating has to go. If you don’t call a foul on one end of the court, then don’t call a foul on the same type of play on the other end. And conversely, if you call a foul on one end, and a similar play occurs on the other end, a foul should be called.

The fans, and most of all, the players just want consistency.

With consistent officiating, the players then know what rules are applied to the game. But when inconsistency creeps up in the middle of the game, it throws the entire game off rhythm.

Players should have a say

In all fairness, the fans learn what the players said to the referee before they’re teed up, but they don’t know what the referees said to the players.

Players should be able to discuss calls with the officials on the court without expecting to get teed up for it.

The Bulls’ Dwyane Wade said it best:

"“I hate ’em. I hate the two-minute reports. I’ll go on record again saying that. It’s bad for our game to come back with those two-minute reports. Because they come back and they show the imperfectness of our game in two minutes. It’s imperfect the whole game, let’s not just breakdown the [last] two minutes. Players get called out and get fined for saying something to the refs, but the NBA is calling our refs out for making the wrong play or the right play, whatever the case may be.”"

Technicals should be reviewed during the game

What can the league do to change the way that technicals are assessed and ensure fairness with a goal towards objective officiating?

First, if the player questions the call and is not argumentative, and wants to present his side of what occurred, that should not be a technical.

Secondly, once a technical is assessed, that should be reviewable, just like a foul in Secaucus.

More from Wiz of Awes

A player shouldn’t have to wait after the game is over, or after he is “unfairly” ejected, to request the technical be rescinded.

The damage has already been done. The technical should be reviewed during the game.

Case in point, the NBA, after a game between the Celtics and the Hawks in February, said that Dwight Howard should not have been ejected for hanging on the rim.

This Monday night quarterbacking doesn’t help the integrity of the game.

The technical should’ve been reviewed at the time it occurred. Fortunately, the Hawks still secured the win.

Refs should check their bias at the door. Just because Wall or any other player did something in a prior game, it’s still a new ball game. Judge the play before you, not the player.

Next: Why the Wizards Could Get To the NBA Finals

The game should be decided on the way the ball bounces, not which way the whistle blows.

Home/Wizards News

Washington Wizards: Breaking Down John Wall’s Beef With NBA Referees

By Jen Julie Smith | Apr 2, 2017

Washington Wizards guard John Wall has been racking up technical fouls this season and ranted about NBA referees after a loss to the Utah Jazz.

More from Wiz of Awes

Wall’s reputation precedes him

There should be fair play

More from Wiz of Awes

Wall’s toughness hurts him

Players should have a say

Technicals should be reviewed during the game

More from Wiz of Awes