The Pool Report interview was conducted by Chris Hine (Minnesota Star-Tribune) with Crew Chief Scott Foster following tonight’s Rockets at Timberwolves game.

QUESTION: Why was Naz Reid ejected without a prior technical foul?

FOSTER: Reid made a statement that questioned the integrity of the crew.

QUESTION: From the replay it appeared Sengun was moving and not set at the time of contact, what did you see that caused the call to be upheld?

FOSTER: After the review, the defender was deemed to beat the offense player to the spot, prior to his upward shooting motion, and gain legal guarding position.

QUESTION: At what point in Randle’s flagrant foul was he deemed to be “launching” into Sengun?

FOSTER: Randle was deemed to have run through the screen with force making no attempt to avoid the contact, which was deemed unnecessary.

https://bsky.app/profile/christopherhine.bsky.social/post/3mhwv5jo6fk2k

macarolls

219 | 7 hours ago

Naz Reid to Scott Foster (probably): “I am not questioning your integrity. I am denying its existence.”

Bill3ffinMurray | Timberwolves

11 | 4 hours ago

If you think I’ll stand here and take this from you, dwarf.

Over-Awareness2428 | Timberwolves

172 | 7 hours ago

Imagine your job having zero accountability and being able to do whatever the fuck you want. Insane.

YaPhetsEz

48 | 6 hours ago

It’s even more than zero accountability. Not only is there zero accountability, but you can actively eject people who question your performance.

22797 | Warriors

39 | 5 hours ago

It’s not a coincidence multiple refs used to be cops

LaidOffinAlb | Bulls

1 | 30 minutes ago

All Refs Are Bad

CycleV | Vancouver Grizzlies

1 | 22 minutes ago

Yeah but the acronym for that…

LaidOffinAlb | Bulls

1 | 13 minutes ago

WHAT ABOUT IT

TonyHawktuah69

1 | 2 hours ago

I work with several people like that. It’s astounding some people coast through with no repercussions.

Old_Willow4766

-80 | 7 hours ago

NBA refs are evaluated and scored on every call they make. “Zero accountability” is a truly moronic statement.

yourloudneighbor | Timberwolves

56 | 7 hours ago

I mean what are they gonna do? Foster still gets nba playoff games and so does every other ref we all hate.

Their scoring system is about as reliable as a wet paper bag.

Akipella | Warriors

14 | 6 hours ago

Hey now, you’re not allowed to speak common sense on here.

Don’t you know, everyone who complains about refs is just biased and their job is actually very hard…therefore the ones who seem to intentionally get various calls wrong should be excused from their horrific game and league changing calls and impact on the game

tomdawg0022 | Timberwolves

2 | 3 hours ago

u/yourloudneighbor has been ejected for questioning the integrity of the NBAs referee grading

Akipella | Warriors

12 | 6 hours ago

It genuinely may as well be zero accountability compared to nearly every other job on the planet btw but yes do go on about their scorecard system that is nothing but a blatant attempt to appease fans because we all know the refs run the show. They can’t be touched.

This guy is the same dude who officiated that game of the Finals last year, Thunder vs. Pacers btw. And will continue to be in control in all the high profile situations. No one can stop them - they’re literally omnipotent at this point and you’re here to pick at the fact that we even dare to complain about it on the internet, knowing we are powerless.

Why not just let us?

[deleted]

-1 | 6 hours ago

[deleted]

Akipella | Warriors

2 | 6 hours ago

No one is saying that

But they also get paid way more than a “normal job” even if it pales in comparison to how much the players get paid

Old_Willow4766

-19 | 6 hours ago

We can complain about missed calls but there is a vast difference between thinking a ref missed a call and saying that they are intentionally trying to swing games. One is human error and the other is an actual crime.

MrCroissant45 | Timberwolves

9 | 5 hours ago

It wasn’t a missed call. They reviewed a slow motion replay and ruled against what everybody saw on their screens. That was no human error

ZachLagreen | Timberwolves

1 | 26 minutes ago

Twice

Akipella | Warriors

4 | 6 hours ago

And we know refs have done it before. Over 160 calls btw

Over-Awareness2428 | Timberwolves

13 | 6 hours ago

Big ref fan here, didn’t know you guys existed. They may be eval’d but theres zero accountability who are you kidding? Scott Foster just had a game where he let his emotions dictate foul calls. You really think someone is coaching and grading him? They’re high fiving after that bullshit. ~~Not once in NBA history has an NBA ref been suspended for a few games for making clear bad calls~~.

Edit: Forgot about the Crawford suspension, but deserved for something that ridiculous and public.

[deleted]

3 | 6 hours ago

[deleted]

Over-Awareness2428 | Timberwolves

1 | 6 hours ago

Ah forgot about that one but impossible not to. Suspending someone for laughing is fireable let alone suspendable.

[deleted]

2 | 6 hours ago

[deleted]

Akipella | Warriors

1 | 6 hours ago

Plenty of other ref ego trips that have gone unpunished forever. For every 1 that is, another 99 are left unadressed.

Over-Awareness2428 | Timberwolves

0 | 6 hours ago

You heard it here first everyone from another referee fan. It happened once 19 years ago, so everything is forgiven moving forward.

[deleted]

1 | 6 hours ago

[deleted]

Over-Awareness2428 | Timberwolves

2 | 6 hours ago

Thats productive to this discussion about Scott Foster.

Old_Willow4766

-8 | 6 hours ago

“Not once in NBA history has an NBA ref been suspended for a few games for making clear bad calls.” - They don’t need to suspend they just take you off of games. You’ve never heard about if because the truly bad refs just vanish never to be heard from again.

Akipella | Warriors

5 | 6 hours ago

I think the truly bad ones are the ones caught gambling over what was it - 160 times? And still officiating Game 4 of the Finals last year, but maybe that’s just me.

Over-Awareness2428 | Timberwolves

1 | 6 hours ago

Cool I think NBA players should just get to fake injuries quietly during league suspensions than too to avoid integrity and image issues to the player base.

nbaistheworst

6 | 6 hours ago

So other than not being on the list of refs to call games in the playoffs, does anything happen if their evaluation and scores are poor?

Instead, we have Natalie Sago reflexively blowing the whistle any time a player flops.

foshiiy | Rockets

3 | 4 hours ago

“We have investigated ourselves and found nothing”

Gukkitwo

2 | 6 hours ago

“Evaluated and scored” how and by who. Because in memory I have never seen a ref held accountable for any call. Its not that I don’t think they’re evaluated. But the people doing the evaluation seem very… lets call it sympathetic

Chendii | Lakers

1 | 27 minutes ago

Have you actually tracked the referee roster? I haven’t, but I would imagine that some have been let go over the years.

Old_Willow4766

-8 | 6 hours ago

The league literally publishes reports on calls in the last 2 minutes of close games and has them publicly posted with video of the plays in question

Gukkitwo

4 | 6 hours ago

Ok? And so what? They can justify whatever call they want. What’s going to happen? Fans will bitch and nothing will happen. Thats not meaningful accountability.

Mirizzi | Timberwolves

2 | 5 hours ago

When was the last time a ref was disciplined for poor calls?

ImDeputyDurland | Timberwolves

78 | 6 hours ago

Been saying this since sports betting companies partnered with every major sport. We’re in the middle of the biggest insider betting/conspiracy scandal in US sports history. The leagues aren’t just aware of this, they’re active partners.

I saw someone make the case a few years ago and I can’t unsee it. It’s basically every game. If a game is going too quick without calls, refs will start making borderline calls to slow the game down so the advertisers can get their ads in. If a game is getting out of hand, refs will try to make some calls to get the game close. That’s the role I fundamentally believe the league is a willing partner in. That’s not even touching on the individual refs that are either directly putting money on games or in the know of people who have money on the games. I truly think it’s every major sport at this point and it’s borderline unwatchable.

Tim-oBedlam | Timberwolves

26 | 6 hours ago

There’s going to be some 1919 Black Sox-level scandal sometime in the next five years; I am almost certain of it. I’d say the NBA is most likely, followed by MLB.

Sports gambling is a scourge.

ADavidJohnson | Supersonics

14 | 4 hours ago

The US government and military seem to be teeming with people who use insider knowledge of bombings and presidential statements to make millions of dollars.

That’s the whole US economy now: just grift and rent-seeking.

Vitex1988 | Thunder

-8 | 3 hours ago

it’s always Wolves fans XD

yourloudneighbor | Timberwolves

37 | 7 hours ago

“He was moving. That’s some bullshit” is what I can lip read from Naz. Out of 48 mins of constant complaints and whining…that’s what sent foster over the edge?

Also when does one have to attempt to avoid contact? If Julius wants to run through Sengun for setting a pick, why can’t he? They shouldn’t get 2 shots and the ball for it. So dumb a guy can get called for charging because someone willingly steps in front of a drive and takes a big hit. But if you run through someone willingly setting a screen…you get called for a flagrant

It’s like the defenseless receiver in the NFL and why defenses basically have to play defense with hands tied behind their backs. Sorry not sorry your QB threw the ball into an area that made his WR defenseless. We’re trying to win the damn game too.

ElMaskedZorro

1 | 4 hours ago

Did that once in a highschool game and just blew up the screener.

Was appaplectic in the moment. Then after the game I had it explained to me and it makes a lot of sense why you can’t just blow up a screener.

The only weird loophole is that the screener is there specifically to get in your way. So I think if you could blow them up while pretending you didn’t see them you could maybe get the benefit of the doubt.

But yeah its illegal

pbcorporeal | Pelicans

-13 | 5 hours ago

It’s the same rule?

If a player is the first one to the spot and in a legal position then they own that spot and you can’t just run them over.

Also the rule doesn’t say you have to be set to take a charge. So why the reporter is bringing that up I don’t know.

Chendii | Lakers

1 | 23 minutes ago

You’re correct, don’t know why you’re so downvoted. I haven’t been able to find any language in the rules that says the defender has to have planted feet just that they have to arrive before the offense in such a way that gives the offense enough time to change course before contact.

MiscellaneousDanger

-21 | 5 hours ago

Do you beat your wife? While basketball is a contact sport, it’s not a full contact sport. There is a definition guide in the rules that very clearly defines screening and offensive fouls and in both cases you cannot plow through a player in a legal game/guarding position. Flagrant can be assessed on both for any contact deemed excessive or unnecessary and in both cases you are supposed to avoid contact with players in those positions.

Football players who play defense are bitches, playing a full contact sport in a position that literally does not get hit and then complaining their hands are tied.

That being said, Naz definitely didn’t deserve to be tossed (the technical accounted for his 6th) and that was in fact some bullshit.

kanyeguisada | Spurs

24 | 6 hours ago

QUESTION: Do you keep your illegal payments and gambling proceeds in the Cayman Islands or Bermuda?

GaimeGuy | Timberwolves

1 | 2 hours ago

Yes

Prior_Cry7759

17 | 7 hours ago

Literally 1984

Cul_what | Lakers

15 | 6 hours ago

“Dont hurt my feelings” - Scott Foster

Interesting_Book_759

7 | 6 hours ago

Scott Fosterrorist

Jakoobus91 | Minneapolis Lakers

8 | 4 hours ago

Can the NBA just eject Scott at this point? I don’t see how from a business standpoint it’s smart to keep someone like Foster around who has led so many fans to question the integrity of the league. From being linked to Tim Donaghy to having multiple player complaints and literally earning a nickname “the Extender” for his officiating in the playoffs, I dont get how this jabroni keeps his job.

Nechiko

3 | 4 hours ago

The doggone man know too much

Zoratth | Clippers

5 | 3 hours ago

Yep, Foster definitely knows where all the bodies are buried so to speak. You fire him and he’s releasing a tell-all memoir about NBA corruption within a week.

the_shins | Pistons

7 | 4 hours ago

Ejecting him for questioning the integrity of the crew makes me doubt the integrity of the crew.

Shingorillaz | Timberwolves

7 | 3 hours ago

Look refing is hard there’s going to be misses and bad calls, the problem is Foster doesn’t just make bad calls he makes bad calls knowing they’re bad calls whether for ego or something more nefarious it can’t be allowed to continue.

mizzou421

5 | 5 hours ago

One of the tanking teams should just send everyone one of their guys on the court to question Scott Foster’s integrity and make him eject every single one of them

nbaistheworst

3 | 6 hours ago

Foster’s deeming was almost enough - but KD’s choke in OT saved the Wolves.

Quality_Cucumber | GSW

2 | 6 hours ago

Scott Foster a mark a.. b…..

ForneauCosmique | Spurs

2 | 6 hours ago

What is he gonna eject the whole fanbase and playersn?? WE ALL SEE IT

PROFOAK89 | Bulls

1 | 2 hours ago

NBA likes him or else he would have been gone.

Red_Jester-94 | Celtics

1 | an hour ago

If I trust any NBA refs integrity, it’s definitely Scott Foster /s

SurlyWet

1 | an hour ago

Is there any line you can’t cross? Lets dig into this

I_Set_3_Alarms | Celtics

-10 | 5 hours ago

He’s right though?

Here is the pool report from tonight’s game. Naz Reid ejected for making a statement that “questioned the integrity of the crew, per Scott Foster.