Jalen Brunson’s return to Houston a reminder of Knicks’ referee qualms

HOUSTON — The Knicks are returning to the scene of the refereeing crime with mixed reviews on how Jalen Brunson is now being officiated. 

In their previous appearance at the Toyota Center in February, Brunson was whistled for a phantom foul that resulted in a defeat to the Rockets and a formal protest filed by the Knicks.

The protest predictably was denied, but it opened a larger conversation about whether Brunson was getting a whistle comparable to his stardom. 

Ahead of Monday’s rematch against the Rockets, Brunson still wasn’t getting to the line at a commensurate rate.

He entered Sunday averaging the most drives in the NBA (19.8) but was 36th in free-throw attempts per game (5.2). 

“I always think he can be officiated better,” Tom Thibodeau smiled. 

Unlike at certain points last season — like after that controversial Rockets defeat — Thibodeau wasn’t pining for better calls or speaking in frustration Sunday afternoon.

He was asked his opinion and also gave positive comments about the overall officiating trend, saying, “I think there is a good balance right now to the physicality of the game. They’ve taken a lot of trickery out of it where guys are exaggerating contact and all that stuff.” 

There’s less to complain about with the Knicks entering Sunday allowing the fewest foul shots per game.

But Thibodeau did push hard against Brunson’s reputation as one of those players who exaggerates contact. 

“I watch the plays. To me, if you study the footwork and the body position, you would see exactly what happens. I look at them all,” Thibodeau said. “The thing that he has the ability to do, probably as well as anyone in the league, is put players at a disadvantage. Now, it’s on them to recover from that. If you’re looking at body position and you’re looking at attacking the basket, you would know those are fouls. And that’s why I try to help out [by telling the referees].” 

Brunson sarcastically said, “Thank you,” on Sunday when reminded of the call last season by Jacyn Goble, who whistled the Knicks point guard for contact that never occurred on a Rockets shot in the final second of a tie game. 

The NBA acknowledged the mistake. 

“Do we know if Jacyn Goble [is] officiating?” Josh Hart said Sunday. 

Referee assignments are revealed the morning of the game. 

“How NBA officiating works, whatever the point of emphasis is that offseason, it’s like that for the first couple of months of the season and then just kind of goes back to normal,” Hart said. “You know it, so you just kind of go with it. Obviously, after All-Star break is when things start cranking up a little more. They let us be more physical.” 

Hart has a point.

Last season’s “Points Of Emphasis” included a crackdown on flopping.

The NBA issued fines for the first couple weeks but quickly abandoned it.

Also, the number of fouls went way down in the second half of last season. 

This summer, the “Points of Emphasis” included straight-line pathway fouls, verticality and closeouts on jump shots.

Brunson, who never complains about officiating in the media, is adjusting. 

“I think it’s the beginning of the year and things are called pretty strictly or whatever,” Brunson said. “I don’t think I’m being officiated any differently. Regardless of what happens, you’ve got to adjust.”