NBA referees will take questions and interact with fans via social media during two nationally televised matches next week.
On Monday during the Golden State at LA Lakers game on TNT and during Wednesday’s San Antonio at Phildelphia game on ESPN, fans can tweet at @OfficialNBARefs or use the hashtag #RefWatchParty to converse with officials who are watching the game.
This project comes as the result of experimentation during last year’s NBA Finals as well as discussions between the league and the referees union. The referees who are tweeting will have full access to the league’s replay center, giving them the ability to see all angles of a play or controversial call in order to answer fan questions.
The union and the league plan to have more games like the two next week where fans can interact with referees later in the season and into the playoffs.