The NBA is currently investigating longtime referee Eric Lewis over a Twitter account that has since been deleted. The account, with the handle @CuttliffBlair and username “Blair Cuttliff,” frequently responded to posts on league officiating and defended Lewis, as well as other NBA referees. League sources confirmed to ESPN that the league is investigating the matter.
Possible Violation of League Rule
The investigation is centered on a possible violation of a league rule against referees commenting on officiating publicly without authorization. If it is discovered that Lewis was making such statements, he could potentially face discipline. Lewis has been a referee for 19 seasons, officiating more than 1,100 games and 82 playoff games. He has been one of the NBA’s highest-rated officials in recent years and has been assigned to six Finals games since 2019. His most recent assignment was Game 1 of the Western Conference finals between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers on May 16.
Past Issues with Burner Accounts
The use of burner accounts has been a problem in the NBA in the past. In 2018, Philadelphia 76ers general manager Bryan Colangelo resigned when he and his wife were linked to burner accounts that criticized some of the team’s players. In 2020, then-Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant admitted that he had used multiple burner accounts to interact with fans who criticized him or his team.
Reported by Marc Stein
NBA reporter Marc Stein was the first to report that the league had opened an investigation into Lewis. The league has not yet commented on the matter, but the investigation is ongoing. It remains to be seen if any disciplinary action will be taken against Lewis if it is determined that he violated the league’s rule on public commentary on officiating.
Leave a Reply