Few in the NBA create as much of a ruckus as Scott Foster. His name on the officiating crew gets groans from players. Fans brace themselves for controversy. If Chris Paul is in the building? Oh boy, this is going to get dirty.
Foster isn’t just a referee; he’s the referee. The one the NBA trusts with the biggest games. Someone who always seems to end up at the crux of drama. That one conspiracy theorist just won’t stop yelling about it. He’s a guy who has been in the league for nearly three decades, calling games in the most high-pressure moments, and his reputation is still… complicated. They say that he is the best at what he does. Others? I’ll just say they think he doesn’t do enough. How did Scott Foster become the NBA’s most infamous whistleblower? Why does his name create a storm on social media every time he steps on the court, and beyond?
What Does Scott Foster’s Career in the NBA Look Like?
Like him or not, Foster’s resume is stacked. Since joining the league in the 1994-95 season, he’s officiated over 1,675 regular-season games and 241 playoff matchups—including 24 NBA Finals games. The league clearly values his experience, putting him in charge of some of the biggest moments in basketball history.
There are 8 NBA officials with over 100 career playoff games officiated; Scott Foster (241), Marc Davis (189), Tony Brothers (187), James Capers (178), Zach Zarba (146), Bill Kennedy (139), Ed Malloy (136) and John Goble (125).
An incredible accomplishment for these officials.… pic.twitter.com/lG15bzzF5l
— NBA Referees (@OfficialNBARefs) April 19, 2024
One of his most notable assignments? The 2010 NBA Finals Game 7 between the Lakers and the Celtics. This game was not going to be pretty, the tension was sky-high, and legacies were on the line. He was right in the middle of it, with legend refs Dan Crawford and Joey Crawford on the flanks. That’s a career-defining moment for any referee.
Foster was in the Continental Basketball Association and NCAA in the Southern and Big South conferences before he became an NBA star. His officiating journey in the NBA started at the high school level in Maryland making his first calls in what was, by comparison, small crowds before the NBA lights. One thing has always accompanied him, no matter where he’s been, and that is controversy.
Does Scott Foster Have a Feud with Chris Paul?
Most NBA rivalries are between players. This one? It’s between a player and a ref. And it’s one of the strangest feuds in basketball history.
Chris Paul and Scott Foster have a history. Ugly history. The numbers alone are enough to raise eyebrows. Veteran NBA reporter Tom Haberstroh once pointed out that Paul’s teams, despite often being favorites, had lost 17 of the 20 playoff games Foster officiated. And not just lost—got crushed, with an average margin of defeat of 11.2 points.
NBA, Basketball Herren, USA Playoffs-Los Angeles Clippers at Phoenix Suns Apr 18, 2023 Phoenix, Arizona, USA Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul 3 talks to referee Scott Foster against the Los Angeles Clippers in the second half during game two of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Footprint Center. Phoenix Footprint Center Arizona USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xMarkxJ.xRebilasx 20230418_mjr_su5_031
Coincidence? Maybe. But Paul sure doesn’t think so. “We had a situation some years ago, and it’s personal,” Paul said in 2023. “The league knows, everybody knows, and it’s been a meeting and all that. It’s a situation with my son and so, yeah. I’m O.K. with a ref talking, saying whatever, just don’t use a tech to get your point across. I gotta do a better job making sure I stay on the floor for my teammates. But, yeah, that’s that.“
Paul never went into details, but whatever happened clearly stuck with him. The tension boiled over in a Suns-Warriors game in 2023 when Foster ejected Paul in the first half. By now, every time Foster is assigned to one of Paul’s games, it’s like an unspoken warning—something is about to go down.
Why Is Scott Foster Nicknamed ‘The Extender’?
Scott Foster became part of one of the biggest conspiracy theories NBA fans enjoy. His nickname? The Extender. Why? When Foster oversees an elimination game, the percentage of survival for the team, about to be eliminated, is amazingly high. Consider Game 4 of the 2024 NBA Finals. The Dallas Mavericks were a sweep away. The series looked over. But then Foster showed up. And guess what? The Mavs won.
It happened a second time in the Western Conference Finals. Minnesota was down 3-0 against Dallas. Who was the main Game 4 official? You guessed it. The Timberwolves won.
Dec 5, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Referee Scott Foster (48) during the second half of a game between the New York Knicks and the Charlotte Hornets at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
Is it all just coincidence? Maybe. However, when the same pattern occurs year after year, people begin to wonder. It’s not just a weird stat, it’s a thing about Foster’s track record in elimination games. However, whenever team is down and Foster is on the call, NBA Twitter bursts with ‘The Extender’ jokes.
Where Is Scott Foster From?
Scott Foster was just kid from Silver Spring, Maryland, before he became the subject of some most talked about refs in the NBA. Basketball wasn’t even his first love, and his father was a firefighter.
Funny enough, he got into refereeing by accident. When he coached his younger brothers’ basketball teams, part of the deal was that he had to ref the next game afterward. That’s where it all started.
Foster attended Magruder High School, and even back then, he was hustling. He started his own business—Foster’s Maintenance, a lawn mowing and trash disposal service. Eventually, he passed it down to his younger brother. The grind never stopped for him, whether it was on the court or off it.
Which College Did Scott Foster Attend?
Foster went on to the University of Maryland, where he doubled down on officiating. While most students were stressing over exams, he was calling high school games in Washington, D.C. He climbed the ranks quickly, moving up to college and semi-pro games before getting the NBA call in 1994.
Love him or hate him, Scott Foster isn’t going anywhere. For nearly 30 years, he’s been at the center of the NBA’s biggest moments, and despite all the controversy, the league keeps assigning him to marquee games.
Is he The Extender? Maybe. Is he Chris Paul’s worst nightmare? Definitely. Is he just an experienced ref who always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time? That’s up for debate.
But one thing is for sure—when Scott Foster is on the court, something is always bound to happen.
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