NBA players took to Twitter after a controversial explanation from the NBA Referees Twitter account explained why a non-travel call of a driving Bradley Beal against the Detroit Pistons went by without a whistle.
Complex Sports posted a video of the play, which shows Beal bobbling the ball before re-gathering it, taking an extra step and dishing out to the perimeter:
Cancel NBA refs. https://t.co/KybFya8cRh
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) February 12, 2019
The refs argued that the play was legal, given that Beal “lost control” of the ball and gathered by using his pivot foot before passing it out to a teammate:
The offensive player gathers with his right foot on the ground. He then takes two legal steps, before losing control of the ball. After regaining possession, a player is allowed to regain his pivot foot and pass or shoot prior to that foot returning to the ground. This is legal. https://t.co/0hVqgHw3w7
— NBA Referees (@OfficialNBARefs) February 12, 2019
NBA players were not having it. Lou Williams of the LA Clippers had this to say:
Not even on Twitter you guys just don’t say “ we missed it “ 😂😂 https://t.co/PZKq5X5oZx
— Lou Williams (@TeamLou23) February 12, 2019
Evan Fournier of the Orlando Magic could only laugh:
LOL Cmon guys https://t.co/UViBTnqH7D
— Evan Fournier (@EvanFourmizz) February 12, 2019




Wayne Selden of the Chicago Bulls might try to follow Beal's lead and game the system:
Okay okay. Gotta work on this move during all star break, the “lose control” into the filay will be unguardable. https://t.co/DmybjeyNea
— Wayne Selden Jr. (@WayneSeldenJr) February 12, 2019
Beal wouldn't be left behind after sarcastically excusing his gaffe in a previous tweet:
— Bradley Beal (@RealDealBeal23) February 12, 2019
Yet Blake Griffin couldn't believe his eyes, thinking Beal hacked into the refs' account to excuse his blatant travel:
nice try @RealDealBeal23 we know you hacked the ref account and tweeted this https://t.co/wMFFLrae1Z
— Blake Griffin (@blakegriffin23) February 12, 2019
Not many players will buy this explanation, given the sheer awkwardness of the play. The optics are certainly not great, and the referees proceeding to excuse this gaffe only hinders whatever little credibility they've had with the players thus far. Just see for yourselves.