Latest news with #ZachZarba
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kobe Bryant once gave this rookie ref a harsh reality check: "He looked at me stone cold and said get your sh-t together"
Kobe Bryant once gave this rookie ref a harsh reality check: "He looked at me stone cold and said get your sh-t together" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Being an NBA official is undoubtedly a glamorous gig. Although the spotlight is on the players, it's the referees who keep the game in check and make sure everything runs smoothly. However, with this great responsibility comes immense pressure and scrutiny. Veteran official Zach Zarba knows this all too well. Now set to officiate in his 22nd season, the native of New York has worked in 1,246 games, including 146 playoff matches and 12 games in the NBA Finals. Although the seasons past have become a blur, Zach revealed he will never forget his first NBA game — one where he incurred the wrath of the Black Mamba himself, Kobe Bryant. Kobe was relentless The dynamic between an NBA official and players is give-and-take. Although the refs are the best at what they do, having gone through many years of officiating in the G League and other tournaments before getting called up to the big league, they still make mistakes. In the same way that even the greatest players of all time have missed shots, they too can miss calls. While it's one thing to miss a call on an average NBA guy, it's another when you miss a call when Kobe was involved. He did just this during his first season as an NBA ref in 2003 and immediately learned a harsh lesson. "He's complaining about, he got fouled or something like that. And so I'm listening, and it's customary, you know, guys know this in any professional league where they have video and everything like that," Zach explained. "If something happens in the first half, they'll say, 'Hey, Zach, go back and look at it. Tell me at halftime if it was a foul. I got hit.' He's saying he got hit on the elbow." As soon as halftime arrives, Zach immediately reviews the play that Kobe had complained about. True to form, the Los Angeles Lakers wingman did get hit; Zach missed it. "So the most important part now, as an official, is to be honest and authentic, because I think that's what the guys want. The guys want to feel that they're talking to someone who's honest," he stated. "You have to tell the truth. You have to be authentic." Zach expected one thing, Kobe gave him another With the information he had, Zarba returned to the floor to talk to Bryant and admit he missed calling a foul on that play. He also expected the notorious competitor would appreciate his candor. "So I went up and I said, 'Hey, Kob, you know what?' Looked him dead in the eyes. 'You were right. You got hit on the elbow,' or something like that," he narrated. "And I'm waiting for it now. I'm like, 'He's about to go, 'Hey, we're all good. Don't worry about it.'" While Zach expected that Kobe would admire his honesty, the latter had other things in mind, like giving the ref some helpful advice in a forceful manner. "He looked at me stone cold, like — looked at me and just said," Zach continued. "'Get your s—t together.'" While some refs would be offended by Kobe's words, Zach let the statement marinate first. He later realized where the Lakers' legend was coming from. Having worked all his life to be the best at what he did, he expected game officials to elevate their performance as well. "It dawned on me later. You know, like, he's spent how many hours perfecting his craft or whatever. You've got to come to work, and everybody has a job to do. It's fair. And I did have to get my s—t together," Zarba surmised. Officiating in the NBA is a job many referees would die for. But the reality is that it is a thankless job. Yet, Zach has embraced the challenges and despite being occasionally chewed out by players, he continues to show up and gets his s—t together night in and night out. This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
For NBA referees, earning the White Jacket is the pinnacle of their profession
The NBA season is long and grueling, with players aspiring to compete in June for the Larry O'Brien Trophy, which is awarded to the champions. For NBA referees, their goal is to be working in June as well, officiating in the championship series and receiving the coveted White Jacket, which is awarded to referees selected for the NBA Finals. Advertisement Earning that apparel isn't easy, and it's an honor. 'It's kind of our trophy, the medal around our neck,' veteran referee Scott Foster said in a league video. Zach Zarba added: 'It's like the Masters green jacket for us.' NBA Finals referees are selected based on their overall performance throughout the first three rounds of the playoffs. Officials are evaluated by the league's referee operations management team after every round to determine advancement. 'We are grateful for these 12 individuals and their dedication to serving the game at the highest levels throughout the season,' NBA president of league operations Byron Spruell said in a release. 'Being selected to work the NBA Finals is the top honor as an NBA official, and I congratulate this exceptional group on a worthy achievement.' Here are the referees assigned to the 2025 NBA Finals (there are some familiar names): Foster (18th finals) Tony Brothers (14th) Marc Davis (14th) James Capers (13th) Zarba (12th) John Goble (ninth) David Guthrie (eighth) Josh Tiven (sixth) James Williams (fifth) Sean Wright (second) Tyler Ford (first) Ben Taylor (first) Ford and Taylor received their first White Jackets after serving as alternates during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Courtney Kirkland and Kevin Scott are the alternates this season. Foster has officiated the most NBA Finals games among this season's pool (25), followed by Davis (21) and Brothers (17). Each will likely work one of the first four games in the series. If the series continues past Game 4, the league will assign refs as needed. Game 1 between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder is at 8:30 p.m. (ET) Thursday. (Photo of Scott Foster, Pat Fraher, Tony Brothers and Eric Lewis: Andrew D. Bernstein / NBAE via Getty Images)
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Scott Foster picked to work NBA Finals for 18th time, one of 12 referees selected for the series
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch, right, gestures next to referee James Williams during the second half of Game 4 of the Western Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs between the Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder Monday, May 26, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) and teammates react toward referee Zach Zarba (15) during the final seconds of the second half of Game 4 of the Western Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder Monday, May 26, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) and teammates react toward referee Zach Zarba (15) during the final seconds of the second half of Game 4 of the Western Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder Monday, May 26, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch, right, gestures next to referee James Williams during the second half of Game 4 of the Western Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs between the Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder Monday, May 26, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) and teammates react toward referee Zach Zarba (15) during the final seconds of the second half of Game 4 of the Western Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder Monday, May 26, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Scott Foster was selected to officiate the NBA Finals for the 18th time, the league said Tuesday when announcing the roster of 12 officials and two alternates that were picked to work the title series between Indiana and Oklahoma City. Foster is the most veteran of the group. Tony Brothers and Marc Davis were both picked for the 14th time, James Capers for the 13th time, Zach Zarba for the 12th time and John Goble for the ninth time in his career. Advertisement David Guthrie is now an eight-time selection for the finals, while Josh Tiven was picked for the sixth time, James Williams for a fifth time and Sean Wright for a second time. There are two first-time selections this season: Tyler Ford and Ben Taylor. They were alternates in each of the last two seasons. 'We are grateful for these 12 individuals and their dedication to serving the game at the highest levels throughout the season,' said Byron Spruell, the NBA President for League Operations. 'Being selected to work the NBA Finals is the top honor as an NBA official, and I congratulate this exceptional group on a worthy achievement.' Courtney Kirkland and Kevin Scott were picked as alternates. Foster has officiated the most NBA Finals games among this year's referees with 25, while Davis has worked 21 and Brothers has worked 17. Advertisement If previous form holds, each of the 12 will work one of the first four games in the series as part of a standard three-person crew. If the series goes past Game 4, the NBA will continue assigning as needed from the same pool for the remainder of the matchup. NBA Finals officials were selected based on their overall performance throughout the first three rounds of the playoffs. Officials were evaluated by the NBA Referee Operations management team after each round to determine advancement in this year's postseason, the league said. The crews for each game are typically announced around 9 a.m. Eastern on game days. ___ AP NBA:
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Caitlin Clark's Request Leaves NBA Official Speechless
No matter what league they work in, basketball officials hate to see Caitlin Clark coming. The Indiana Fever star quickly established a reputation for getting on the wrong side of referees in her rookie season in the WNBA, racking up six technical fouls in 40 games — one short of a suspension. Advertisement Clark (2.8) was one of three Fever players to rank inside the top 20 in the WNBA in personal fouls per game, along with Aliyah Boston (3.3) and Temi Fagbenle (3.0). The 23-year-old revealed that one of her goals for the 2025 season, which begins May 16, is to receive no more than two technical fouls this year. However, WNBA fans had zero faith in the ultra-competitive guard to follow through on that resolution. Based on a video from a Fever team outing this week, Clark is already on a mission to get on the right side of the officials in 2025. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) smiles at an official during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun at Gainbridge Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK When she and her teammates went on the floor during an Indiana Pacers playoff game on Tuesday night, she found an NBA official and hit him with a big request. Advertisement "We need some calls," she told Zach Zarba, who was officiating the Pacers' playoff game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the Fever also play. Zarba does not work WNBA games, but he still had a priceless reaction to the request from Clark, whose reputation precedes her in the whistle-blowing community. Zarba cracked a huge smile but did not respond to Clark's comment. It also drew a hearty laugh from Indiana free agent acquisition Sydney Colson, who recorded the video. The funny interaction was not the only instance of Clark cracking up her teammates with unfiltered comments at the Pacers game, as she called out a Milwaukee Bucks fan while throwing out T-shirts alongside new teammate Sophie Cunningham. Advertisement With a new coach in Stephanie White, three WNBA draft picks and several new veterans in the locker room like Colson, DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard added to the mix, the chemistry of the new-look Fever around Clark appears to be growing by the day during offseason workouts. Indiana officially opens its training camp on Sunday, followed by preseason games on May 3, May 4 and May 10. The WNBA regular season tips off for the Fever on May 17, when they will face Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Related: Caitlin Clark Drags Fever Teammate Into Training Camp Controversy Related: Caitlin Clark Breaks Silence on Big Change in Physical Appearance
