Former NBA referee comes in support of Scott Foster, calls Chris Paul 'biggest a**hole'

Every year during the NBA playoffs, fans start complaining more about the referees' decisions. This year, even players and coaches are joining in. A lot of the anger is directed at a few specific referees, especially Scott Foster.

Some players have ongoing issues with Foster, like Chris Paul, who has been very vocal about it. Now, in an article in The Athletic, Jason Quick talked to Bill Spooner, a former NBA referee with 32 seasons of experience. Spooner took the discussion to another level by defending Foster and criticizing Chris Paul.

"I'm going to tell you, and I know you are recording me, but I get asked all the time: 'Who are some of the tough guys, some of the bad guys?' And when I tell them that Chris Paul, in my 32 years in the league, was one of the biggest a**holes I ever dealt with, they say, 'Not Rasheed Wallace … or da-da-da?' Nope. Nothing like (Paul). And they are like, 'Oh, he seems like such a nice guy.' And I say, 'Yeah, he's a great image cultivator,’” says Spooner. 

Why Chris Paul and Foster clash?

It can be said that Foster has a big ego and can take things personally on the court, sometimes reacting quickly to certain players. Chris Paul, on the other hand, is extremely competitive and can be difficult — his former teammate  Draymond Green even mentioned this before they both played for the Warriors. So, it's not surprising that Paul and Foster don't get along.

What won't change is Foster being assigned to important games because he's one of the league's top-rated officials based on game reviews. Similarly, Chris Paul's competitive nature isn't going to change either. However, the latest comments from Spooner will surely get a reply from Paul who is known for being vocal about court issues.