By now, NBA referee Scott Foster has a built-in (and conspiratorial) reputation for swinging big playoff games. At the very least, even if some of his calls aren’t intentional, he’s well-known to fans for mostly the wrong reasons as an official.
One moment stands out in particular from Foster’s latest work — Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on Saturday night. Even while Jamal Murray’s Denver Nuggets eventually prevailed to take a 3-0 series lead, there was an instance with Los Angeles Lakers guard Dennis Schröder that made it seem like Foster was seemingly invested in an L.A. victory.
Late in the first half, Schröder dribbled the ball up the court right next to Foster, who was running down the sideline. Sorry, scratch that, Schröder noticeably carried the ball while having a conversation (!) with Foster.
As I’m sure you can guess, Foster didn’t make any call on the play with Schröder. And I’m not sure why:
From Lakers-Nuggets Game 3 last night:
Dennis Schroder casually carrying the ball while talking with Scott Foster. No call was made 👀pic.twitter.com/zTqhfaWxBY
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 21, 2023
Honestly, I know officials in sports miss calls all the time, and it can be impossible to nail down perfectly. It’s part of the deal with the human element. But, for the life of me, I can’t explain why Foster didn’t call Schröder for a carry, travel, whatever. He was literally looking right at him and talking to him.
I guess Foster just decided the fundamental rules of basketball were OK to break at that specific moment, and it boggles the mind. At least this one missed call didn’t end up costing the Nuggets dearly.
NBA fans were in disbelief Foster ignored Schröder's travel while talking to him was hilarious
This is egregious. Man took it from a carry to a travel https://t.co/zxq6xT5znb
— ⏳ (@malikennis_) May 21, 2023
This is disgusting the nba is fixed they dont even hide it no more. Schroder traveled, double dribbled, and carried all in 3 seconds https://t.co/x0BNjol7U9
— Luther Banddross🪞🦁 (@tribecalledxj) May 21, 2023
Proof they call what they want and not what they see! https://t.co/dQGou4vIkv
— Maurice Tropea (@trop_iam) May 21, 2023
Bro i thought my tv glitched 😂 https://t.co/8NGiJMIjap
— dunes. (@DdDaniels10) May 21, 2023
Thought I was the only person who saw that 🤣 https://t.co/AJmVwfyESE
— Khari Thompson (@kdthompson5) May 21, 2023
This is something else https://t.co/1eo3tUO1YE
— Akiva Cohen (@AkivaMCohen) May 21, 2023
NBA refs are actually a joke https://t.co/5SSgVPddzv
— Hawkeye Recruiting (@Iowa_Recruiting) May 21, 2023
Dennis Schroder just casually takes the ball for a jog while literally talking to Scott Foster looking right at him pic.twitter.com/BcMRk0t42J
— Bad Sports Refs (@BadSportsRefs) May 21, 2023
Schroder traveling from LA to SF right in front of Scott Foster pic.twitter.com/lrLAJ3aNGV
— Kyle Seeley (@PresidentSeeley) May 21, 2023
