LogFAQs > #979314169

As been posted, the refs have their own very protected unions. The NBA would need concrete evidence of a ref rigging games for them to fire one of them like they did with Donaghy.

What's funny is Silver has stated that refs doing bad officiating jobs do in fact gets punished but they just don't publicize it like they do with NBA players if they do something bad. Refs would literally lose out on officiating playoff games if they suck which means they would lose potential income I imagine, but that hasn't deterred them much from making ass calls.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10065970-adam-silver-says-nba-doesnt-publicize-punishment-for-referees-for-missed-calls

"We don't publicize discipline for officials. We don't think that will be appropriate. But their assignments are affected by the quality of their calls, whether or not they progress into the playoffs and then round by round is impacted by the accuracy of their calls and their demeanor on the floor. So there is a system for overseeing and making those judgements about officials. But more to your earlier point about getting the calls right, that's again not a new issue."