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Top ten worst calls in NBA history

So I was surfing YouTube in an attempt to find a Highlight Reel of the Day, and I decided to choose the single worst officiating call I could find.

Long story short, I couldn’t pick just one. So here is a compilation of the top ten worst calls in NBA history, or at least the one I could find a tape of on the internet.  I had only one guideline; I chose these calls based on how egregious the call, NOT on how much the call affected the outcome of a game.  If they all seem recent, you try to find tape of a bad call that existed before the 90′s.  I dare you.

They’re unranked because, well, because it’s tough to differentiate between such atrociousness.

Corey Maggette walks halfway to China

There are a lot of no-calls on switched pivot feet floating around on YouTube. I chose Maggette’s as the worst, partially because it was arguably the worst but mostly because I can’t stand watching the way he plays basketball. (Catch the basketball. Drive the basketball. Avoid open teammates at all costs. Create contact. Shoot free throws. Repeat from step one.)

By my count, Maggette only switched his pivot foot five times. Then had the audacity to argue with the ref about a foul no-call.

 

 

Joey Crawford gives Tim Duncan a good chuckle

No bad NBA calls list would be complete without a Joey Crawford quick-trigger technical foul. Can you really get thrown out of a game for laughing?
 

 

Carlos Boozer refrains from touching Lamar Odom

… but is called for a foul anyway. On first glance, it actually looks like Boozer might have shoved Odom in the back. On second glance, that was air that he was shoving.

As close as Boozer gets to touching Odom? That’s about as close as I’d ever want to get to touching Odom’s wife Khloe Kardashian. Her sisters, though…

 

And the Academy Award goes to…

Robert Horry, for his performance in this NBA game. Jeff Van Gundy, announcing the game, said, “He didn’t throw him. Robert Horry — every time he comes up to set a screen — if there’s any contact he’s going to fall to the ground.”

Jeff, you’re wrong. It doesn’t take contact.

 

Chauncey Billups called for ref’s foul

So a ref trucks Damon Jones, who falls out of bounds and loses the basketball; what does the ref call? A foul on Chauncey Billups, of course.

 

Devin Harris’ pirouette

In the NBA, it often works to up-fake, lean in and shoot. It’s a great way to draw a foul…

Even when there isn’t even any contact.

 

Sean Marks hits the “E”!

Sometimes, an out of bounds call can be impossible to miss. On second thought, never say never.

 

Lebron does double duty

Lebron not only manages to travel twice on the same play, but he also lets me put a Jiri Welsch highlight (okay, lowlight) on the site. Plus, the Master of the Crab Dribble took about five steps before even thinking about dribbling.

 

Keyon Dooling runs into a brick wall

When you run into your own teammate, it’s never a good thing. Unless, that is, the ref mistakes him for your opponent.

 

Player goes Mike Tyson on ref

This isn’t in the NBA and isn’t even that bad of a call. It’s actually a pretty decent no-call. But it had to be on the list because this player certainly reacted like it was the worst call ever.

Related posts:

  1. Atlanta brings history, and respect, into game with Boston
  2. Kevin Garnett’s injury: Fearing the worst
  3. Celtics again fall to Hawks, 102-96
  4. Kendrick Perkins, fourth-best shooter in Celtics history
  5. Are the Celtics the best road team in NBA history?

categories Around the NBA, Celtics Blog, Featured | Jay King | January 16, 2010

categories Carlos Boozer, Chauncey Billups, Corey Maggette, Damon Jones, Devin Harris, Jeff Van Gundy, Joey Crawford, Keyon Doolins, Lamar Odom, Lebron James, Robert Horry, Sean Marks, Tim Duncan

3 Responses to “Top ten worst calls in NBA history”

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