Nearly 36 percent — 25 of 70 — of the NBA’s referees are in the league’s health and safety protocol, ESPN reported Thursday.
The league’s referee crew is being supplemented by officials from the G League, which is on pause through Wednesday. That’s allowing players to sign short-term contracts to fill out depleted rosters and helped to ease the referee shortage.
A few games have been officiated by two referees instead of three.
ESPN said referees are required to be fully vaccinated and have until Wednesday to receive their booster doses. The league also is working with the National Basketball Referees Association to improve travel conditions that could lead to a diminished chance of being exposed to COVID-19, per the report.
–Field Level Media
