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Richard Jefferson officiates NBA Summer League game: Best and worst moments from ESPN analyst as a referee

Nick Metallinos

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Richard Jefferson officiates NBA Summer League game: Best and worst moments from ESPN analyst as a referee image

He may not have been wearing his familiar No. 24, but Richard Jefferson was once again running up-and-down an NBA court on Monday night. 

The former player-turned-ESPN broadcaster switched sides, trading in his suit for the zebra stripes, and refereed the second quarter of the Portland Trail Blazers vs. New York Knicks Summer League game in Las Vegas.

It was a moment that led the basketball world to do a double-take. 

MORE: Las Vegas Summer League winners and losers

Why did Richard Jefferson referee a Summer League game?

NBA Communications announced earlier on Monday that Jefferson would referee the second quarter of Monday's Knicks-Trail Blazers Summer League game in Las Vegas.

"Richard Jefferson will officiate the second quarter of Monday's New York vs. Portland game after attending daily NBA Summer League Officiating Meetings in Las Vegas. A former player turned broadcaster for ESPN, Jefferson has experienced how NBA referees prepare for games and execute that knowledge on the court," NBA Communications wrote.

"He will then join the broadcast at halftime to discuss the experience."

Jefferson went on to explain his decision to referee the game via his Twitter account. 

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How did Richard Jefferson do as a referee? 

Jefferson appeared to fit right in as an official.

So, this is how referees warm-up then, huh?

How did it go? Well, it had its ups and downs.

Just because Jefferson is a former player - and a championship-winning one at that - it doesn't mean he is immune to being heckled from the crowd.

It didn't take him too long to find out that a referee's job isn't that easy after all.

He made it right in the end, though.

Oops! C'mon, Richard! You have to signal the made basket! What would Richard Jefferson the analyst have said about this if he was on the call?

And of course, if you make a couple of mistakes the crows will let you know - especially if the Knicks' head coach Tom Thibodeau is in attendance. 

He's a fast learner. He knew to signal a made triple the second time around!

He definitely got the hang of it by the end! 

 

R-Jeff was definitely having some fun with the crowd by the end of it.

Summer League Richard Jefferson is a PROBLEM!

How many former NBA players have become referees?

If this is considered an official appearance, Jefferson joined a small and exclusive club as just the fourth former NBA player to referee an NBA game. 

Haywoode Workman is probably the most well-known of the lot. He became a referee after an eight-year NBA career with the Hawks, Bullets, Pacers, Bucks & Raptors.  

Bernie Fryer and Leon Wood are the other two names on the list. Fryer refereed in the NBA from 1978 until 2007 after making history as the first NBA player to become a referee. Since moving on from refereeing, he has been Vice President and Director of Officials for the NBA since July 2008. 

He played 111 NBA games for the Portland Trail Blazers and New Orleans Jazz. 

Wood was the 10th overall pick in the famed 1984 draft and played for the 76ers, Nets, Bullets, Spurs, Kings & Hawks during his 6-year NBA career.

He began his officiating career in 1996 and is still active to this day. 

So, how do you think #Refferson did?

Nick Metallinos

Nick Metallinos Photo

Nick has been working exclusively within the NBA world for over a decade. He hosted 46 episodes of Ball or Nothin' - a show screened on ESPN highlighting the social media aspects of the NBA. Nick has covered 3 NBA Finals, 5 NBA All-Star weekends, 8 NBA drafts, 5 Jordan Brand Classics plus dozens of playoff games and hundreds of regular season games. 
Nick spends his spare time trying to decide which sneakers best match his outfit.