Veteran official Scott Foster is one of 12 referees chosen to call games during the 2024 NBA Finals series between the Celtics and Mavericks.
Foster, who joined the officiating ranks 30 years ago, is the most experienced referee who will work the series — this year marks the 17th Finals series that he will officiate. While the honor reaffirms Foster’s standing as one of the league’s most accomplished officials, he is also one of the most controversial.
As Foster steps between the lines to call his first game of the 2024 NBA Finals, fans have come to wonder about Boston’s success when he is the crew chief. Here’s more on how the Celtics perform when Foster officiates.
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Boston Celtics record with Scott Foster
The Celtics were 6-0 in the six games Foster officiated during the 2023-24 regular season. Throughout his career, Foster has called 133 Celtics games in the regular season. Boston is 73-60 in those games.
During the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Foster has been the crew chief for an additional selection of Celtics games, including the team’s Game 1 win over the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and a Game 2 win over the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
When assessing Boston’s record with Foster, it is important to note that the team turned in one of the most dominant regular seasons in NBA history and is in the process of orchestrating one of the most dominant playoff runs. Foster is one of eight officials who called at least four Celtics games in 2023-24 and did not see a loss.
Of the 71 officials that called Celtics games in 2023-24, only one saw more than two losses in person.
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NBA Finals officials
Here are the 12 officials who have been chosen to call games in the NBA Finals:
- Tony Brothers (13th NBA Finals)
- James Capers (12th NBA Finals)
- Marc Davis (13th NBA Finals)
- Scott Foster (17th NBA Finals)
- John Goble (8th NBA Finals)
- David Guthrie (7th NBA Finals)
- Bill Kennedy (6th NBA Finals)
- Courtney Kirkland (4th NBA Finals)
- Kevin Scott (2nd NBA Finals)
- Josh Tiven (5th NBA Finals)
- James Williams (4th NBA Finals)
- Zach Zarba (11th NBA Finals)
Boston Celtics record with NBA Finals officials
Here is Boston’s regular season record with each of the 12 officials assigned to the NBA Finals:
| Official | Record |
| Tony Brothers | 2-1 (.667) |
| James Capers | 2-0 (1.000) |
| Marc Davis | 4-2 (.667) |
| Scott Foster | 6-0 (1.000) |
| John Goble | 1-0 (1.000) |
| David Guthrie | 4-1 (.800) |
| Bill Kennedy | 5-0 (1.000) |
| Courtney Kirkland | 4-0 (1.000) |
| Kevin Scott | 2-0 (1.000) |
| Josh Tiven | 4-2 (.667) |
| James Williams | 3-3 (.500) |
| Zach Zarba | 3-1 (.750) |
Note the Celtics posted a 64-18 record in 2023-24 and have won 15 of their first 17 games for a cumulative 79-20 record in their pursuit of an NBA title.