NBA Referee Eric Lewis Retires Amid Burning Account Controversy
In a surprising turn of events, NBA referee Eric Lewis has announced his retirement, putting an end to the investigation into his alleged use of a burner social media account. This account, under the handle @CuttliffBlair, came under scrutiny when it was discovered that Lewis was using it to defend himself and other NBA officials against criticism. However, since the allegations came to light, the account has been deleted.
Despite its deletion, a separate social media account was able to compile a list of the deleted account’s posts, providing further evidence of Lewis’ involvement. The revelations prompted responses from prominent NBA players, including LeBron James and Patrick Beverley.
While it is common for NBA players to voice their opinions on various officiating decisions, NBA officials are not allowed to publicly comment on officiating without the league’s authorization. Therefore, Lewis potentially faced disciplinary action prior to his retirement, pending confirmation from the NBA that he was indeed behind the burner account.
Lewis had an extensive career as an NBA referee, officiating games for a total of 19 seasons. Throughout his tenure, he worked on 1,098 regular season games and 82 playoff games. His retirement marks the end of an era for the veteran referee.
Interestingly, neither LeBron James nor Patrick Beverley have made any public statements regarding Lewis’ retirement. Although they had responded to the allegations against him, their silence on his retirement has left fans speculating about their thoughts on the matter.
As Lewis bows out of the NBA spotlight, the league will now focus on addressing potential reforms and reinforcing its policies regarding social media usage among officials. The incident with Lewis serves as a reminder that even behind the scenes, NBA referees are closely watched and held accountable for their actions.
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