Referees Assigned for Game 7 of the NBA Finals
The NBA has selected James Capers, Josh Tiven, and Sean Wright as the referees who will officiate the crucial Game 7 of the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. This decisive match will take place this Sunday. This will be the first time this trio will officiate a seventh game of the series for the championship, which integrates them into a select group of only 24 referees in the history of the league who have received this honor. The selection of these officials reflects the NBA’s recognition of their consistent performance and preparation throughout the series. Capers was present in Game 3, where Indiana won, while Tiven and Wright participated in Game 4, which ended in victory for Oklahoma City.Game 7 represents the ultimate distinction for any referee in the NBA. One of the new features is the absence of Scott Foster, a veteran with experience in two Game 7s of the Finals and recognized in the league. Had he been selected, Foster would have equaled legendary figures like Richie Powers and Joe Crawford in the number of seventh games officiated. The NBA has 75 full-time referees. Only 36 of them advanced to the first round of the playoffs, and the list is reduced in each subsequent round until reaching the elite group for the Finals. Capers adds his 13th Finals, Tiven his sixth, and Wright his second. James Williams will act as the reserve referee in Game 7, while David Guthrie, who refereed Games 1 and 6, will be in charge of the replay center from Secaucus, New Jersey. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault emphasized the importance of teams focusing on what they can control on the court. Game 7 promises to be a memorable event, both for the definition of the championship and for the milestone it represents for Capers, Tiven and Wright, who join the refereeing legacy in the most important game of the year.Working in the Finals is the highest honor for a league official.
Byron Spruell, President of NBA Operations
