The NBL sent a memo to all 10 teams in an effort to crack down on public criticism of referees, according to a document obtained by ESPN.
The memo, sent on Monday and confirmed with multiple sources, states that the NBL has "zero tolerance for any player, coach or Club staff member publicly questioning the integrity of referees." It is signed by NBL chief operating officer and head of basketball Vince Crivelli and chief legal and governance officer Lauren Blecher.
The memo comes after a round where Illawarra Hawks head coach Justin Tatum - as well as Melbourne United's Cole Anthony - made very public criticisms of NBL officials.
Tatum singled out referee Chris Reid following the Hawks' 106-78 loss to the Adelaide 36ers on Saturday. "It seems like every time we find a way to get momentum... the league sends us Chris Reid," Tatum said. "We've found a way not to have him as much as we can, but at the end of the day, we still got to play through it."
Tatum's comments are currently being reviewed by the NBL, while Anthony was sanctioned by Basketball Australia on Saturday for multiple instances of criticising referees on camera over the course of the previous week; he received three separate financial penalties, sources told ESPN.
Criticism of officials is common across the NBL and world basketball. NBL head coaches regularly dispute calls with referees during games and raise concerns in post-game press conferences. The memo follows what appears to be an increase in the volume of that criticism this season.
The memo says players, coaches, and club staff must not:
"(a) question or impugn the integrity, honesty, impartiality or professionalism of any referee or of the NBL refereeing group, including by suggesting or implying bias, favouritism, an agenda or conspiracy, or that a result was predetermined or influenced;
(b) criticise, or express disapproval of, a referee, a refereeing crew, their performance or their decisions;
(c) single out an individual referee, by name or description, in connection with any comment about a game, or comment on a referee's personal circumstances, history or appointment to a game;
(d) convey criticism indirectly, including through sarcasm, innuendo, gestures, emojis or imagery, or through pointed references to free-throw counts, foul counts or specific calls (for example, "I'll let everyone make up their own minds" or "just look at the free-throw count");
(e) post, share, repost, like, comment on or otherwise endorse content created by others (including fans, media or other participants) that does any of the above, including on personal, private or anonymous accounts;
(f) publicly disclose or comment on any communication with the NBL Referees department, including the outcome of any referee review or video review; or
(g) encourage or incite any other person, including fans, to criticise, abuse or target referees.
According to the memo, the obligations apply in season and in the off-season, in every public forum, including broadcasts, press conferences, media interviews, podcasts, social media, and public events. They also apply "to comments made both on and off the record."
The memo also states what players, coaches, and staff are permitted to do:
"(a) decline to comment on refereeing when asked (for example, "I won't comment on the officiating, we'll focus on what we can control");
(b) discuss their own team's performance, preparation and tactics, and the things within their control;
(c) state, in neutral terms, that the Club will raise a matter with the NBL through the appropriate channels, without characterising the decision, the referee or the likely outcome;
(d) raise concerns, seek clarification of rule interpretations or submit footage for review within League and Club channels, as set out under "action required" below; and
(e) speak positively about referees and the role they play in the game."
Several teams have privately raised concerns to ESPN about the second and fourth of those prohibitions in the 'must not' section, listed in the memo as clauses (b) and (d).
Clause (b) covers any criticism or disapproval of referees or their decisions. Clause (d) gives "I'll let everyone make up their own minds" and "just look at the free-throw count" as examples of indirect criticism.
The relevant sections of the NBL Code of Conduct (clause 2.9.2) and the BA Code of Conduct for Elite Level Participants (clause 5.6.3), which are attached to the memo, both prohibit "unnecessary or obvious dissension, displeasure, disapproval or intimidation of officials and their decisions."
Clause (b) of the memo does not include the "unnecessary or obvious" qualifier.
Teams who spoke to ESPN have also questioned how the league intends to police comments made off the record. The memo does not outline how such comments would be monitored or investigated.
Alleged breaches may be investigated by the NBL under Rule 4 of the NBL Code, with penalties including a reprimand, a fine, suspension, or a ban, the memo says. A breach of the BA Code also constitutes Prohibited Conduct under Basketball Australia's National Framework for Ethical Behaviour and Integrity in Basketball, under which BA may investigate and impose its own sanctions.
Tatum has previously been sanctioned over comments about referees. He was fined $3,000 by Basketball Australia in October 2024 for calling referees "incompetent," and the Hawks were fined $7,500 by the NBL in March 2025 after the league found his comments following Game 3 of the Championship Series undermined the impartiality of its referees.
Last month, 36ers coach Trevor Gleeson said he felt he had been "targeted" by referees in Adelaide's Ignite Cup loss to Melbourne United, and pointed to a 23-16 free-throw disparity in United's favour.
The memo isn't the first time the NBL has attempted to crack down on public criticism of officiating. In November 2023, NBL CEO David Stevenson said he would have "zero tolerance for the abuse of referees, full stop."
The memo outlines three reasons for the league's position: the recruitment and retention of referees, given the small pool of officials capable of working at NBL level and a shortage of referees at community level; the health, safety and wellbeing of referees, including the NBL's and clubs' obligations under work health and safety laws; and public confidence in the integrity of the competition.
It also details the NBL's processes for assessing referees, which include reviewing calls from every game, individual video analysis, data tracking the accuracy and consistency of each referee and crew, and performance-based appointments that inform game and finals allocations.
"Public commentary forms no part of that process and does nothing to improve officiating," the memo states.
Teams have been instructed to circulate the memo to all players, coaches, and staff, and to brief anyone undertaking media duties on the club's behalf.