We know plenty (and some might say too much) about what basketball players are paid. Indeed, there are entire websites and editorial positions dedicated to the analysis of such eye-watering figures and how they may or may not impact a team's ability to win.
But what about the other guys on the court? No, not the coaches—the referees. Although they aren't the ones running the offense or making blocks, the NBA's officials have just as much ability to impact a game as any point guard or center. Their judgment must be swift and judicious—even when others believe it compromised—and their knowledge of the rulebook robust, so they can make potential game-changing calls on the fly. Their individual officiating styles are also typically well-documented; you probably know Bill Kennedy, for instance, because you've seen and heard him take the mic a number of times before.
