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With a bunch of NBA officers huddled across the baseline, the r had some notable friends at Friday's coaching camp. Now that we're weeks away from Opening Night time of the 2026-27 common season, referees have visited websites throughout the league.
Each season, there are new factors of emphasis for NBA referees. This yr, it's about push-off leeway and limiting rewarding defenders flopping on screens. Taking the initiative, the league has had teams go to coaching camps to tell groups in particular person what they need to anticipate as soon as the 2026-27 common season begins.
Alex Caruso appreciated their efforts to be diplomatic and academic about incoming 50-50 calls. Disagreements are inevitable. It's a part of the game. However the NBA officers are hoping to get forward of that with these visits. Particularly since OKC's hard-nosed, bodily model of protection has led to some fan-engineered criticism over time.
"It's good to get these guys in right here and get reside appears. Kinda how the sport known as, you wish to keep away from till preseason," Caruso mentioned. "I'm certain most camps — if not everyone — there are extra fouls than protection being performed. Simply due to stepping into the routine of enjoying full-speed, guarding with out utilizing palms, stepping into the timing of stuff. It was good to have these guys in right here as we speak."
The 2-time All-Defensive member is among the savviest defenders of his technology. Since he joined the Thunder, they've simply been the league's greatest protection by about each metric you possibly can consider. After all, that kind of bodily model and run has led to online-fueled scrutiny from the opposite 29 NBA groups and their respective fanbases. However I digress.
Final yr, a bunch of NBA officers d OKC's 2025-26 coaching camp. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault was joyful to see them embrace open communication. Particularly in a non-game setting. That method, the stakes aren't at their highest when looking for explanations for a name or non-call.
“It's a very good program by the league that they supplied to us this yr. We’ve these three guys in right here as we speak. We had officers the opposite day. These had been productive days," Daigneault mentioned in Oct. 2025. "It formalizes our reside days in observe. It permits us to get a really feel for a way they’re going to name issues. I believe it’s good for them."
Anytime the Thunder are requested concerning the officiating, they've repeated the identical reply — we simply need issues to be constant. If it's going to be a decent whistle or let guys by means of contact, set that tone early so OKC can alter. And likewise name it each methods. That's been the message despatched over time by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Daigneault.
If these two are on the identical web page, don't anticipate anyone from the remainder of the Thunder roster to step out. Even when their politeness frustrates OKC followers typically — happening a tangent concerning the NBA referees postgame earns you some fast and simple brownie factors — it's an organizational philosophy to worth their relationship with the officers over cooking them for social media clout.
Alex Caruso on NBA referees visiting as we speak’s OKC coaching camp. That’s one thing that occurs league-wide yearly: “It’s good to get these guys in right here and simply get reside appears of kinda how the sport known as.” o
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) 6
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