NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has sparked controversy by urging the league to discontinue its practice of releasing last-two-minute (L2M) reports following games.
O’Neal argues that these reports, intended to provide transparency, only serve to fuel arguments and speculation among fans and players alike.
Shaq says the NBA should get rid of the last 2-minute report:
“My question is… you admit it now, but what the f*** does that do for Philadelphia?” pic.twitter.com/vw3pqSSPnH
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 24, 2024
The call to end L2M reports gained traction following a contentious playoff game between the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers, where a crucial no-call stirred debate.
In the closing moments, with the game on the line, Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey found himself in a pivotal inbound situation. Despite apparent contact from Knicks defenders, no foul was called, allowing the Knicks to secure possession and ultimately win the game.
However, the subsequent release of the L2M report painted a different picture, indicating that Maxey was indeed fouled by both Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart during the inbound sequence.
This contradiction between the in-game officiating and the post-game report fueled frustration among Philadelphia fans and players.
In a video shared on Instagram, O’Neal expressed his frustration with the discrepancy between real-time calls and the findings of L2M reports. He questioned the utility of acknowledging missed calls after the fact, particularly when they have no bearing on the outcome of the game.
O’Neal’s sentiments resonate with many in the basketball community who believe that L2M reports only serve to exacerbate tensions and provide little benefit to affected teams.
The controversy surrounding the Knicks-76ers playoff game underscores the contentious nature of L2M reports, especially when they involve high-stakes situations in playoff matchups.
As the series between the Knicks and 76ers continues, the fallout from the disputed calls and the debate over L2M reports is likely to persist, raising questions about the role of transparency in officiating decisions.
