When LeBron James sprinted towards him during Game 3 of Nuggets-Lakers, referee Scott Foster did not step aside like most people would.
Instead, he collided with James along the sideline, causing a temporary stop in play as medical staff tended to Foster’s busted lip. While recovering, Foster jabbed at James, suggesting he had wanted to have that collision for years. Despite this, James gained a few new fans among his NBA peers, as Foster is hugely unpopular among players. In fact, an anonymous survey conducted by The Athletic revealed that 25.4 percent of respondents voted Foster as the league’s worst official.
foster pic.twitter.com/yQ0oK9GpDS
— Erick Savage (@ErickSavage13) May 21, 2023
Foster’s history with Chris Paul has been particularly fraught, with Paul publicly criticizing Foster on multiple occasions. Foster has also been called out by former NBA player Matt Barnes and ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan. Although Foster may have taken the collision personally, he did not show it and even made a questionable call against Denver’s Nikola Jokic midway through the third quarter.
LeBron ran into Scott Foster who had to be treated by the medical staff for a cut on his mouth ? pic.twitter.com/fhbwGaexyT
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 21, 2023
Foster’s poor reputation amongst players and fans alike stems from missed calls in important games and unwarranted ejections. On Saturday, however, Foster’s critics finally had a play concerning him that they could celebrate.
Want More From TMSPN?
For all the latest breaking Sports Entertainment, be sure to follow TMSPN.com on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.