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Polarizing referee with contentious Golden State Warriors record retires after controversy

By Peter O'Keefe

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 10: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors argues with referee Eric Lewis #42 in the third quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Four of the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 10, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 10: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors argues with referee Eric Lewis #42 in the third quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Four of the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 10, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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A polarizing NBA referee with a contentious Golden State Warriors record has retired amid controversial social media activity.

Eric Lewis, a referring veteran of over 1200 combined regular season and playoff games, has retired effective immediately according to a statement released by the league on Wednesday.

A league-worst shooting foul discrepancy means Eric Lewis’ retirement as an NBA referee can only mean good things for the Golden State Warriors.

In light of the decision, the NBA announced they were closing an investigation into Lewis’ social media activity that had drawn plenty of controversy. Fans were quick to take to social media to celebrate the decision, believing their team had been wrongfully refereed by Lewis in the past.

But of those critical of Lewis’ decision-making as a ref, Warrior fans may have the biggest bone to pick with the 52-year-old. Golden State had a horrid shooting foul discrepancy in games refereed by Lewis — statistics that spread across both the regular season and the playoffs.

Head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors complains to referee Eric Lewis after a foul call during the first half against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on January 18, 2019. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors complains to referee Eric Lewis after a foul call during the first half against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on January 18, 2019. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

Across 69 regular season games refereed by Lewis across his career, Golden State were called for 1.4 more shooting fouls than their opponent on average. That was the worst differential of any team in the league, with the Milwaukee Bucks second at 0.9.

The Warriors had a 38-31 regular season record in games officiated by Lewis — that’s a slightly worse winning percentage than their overall winning percentage in the time since he entered the league (2004-05).

Lewis refereed 11 games involving the Warriors during the playoffs, with the shooting foul differential rising to 2.0. However, that only ranked as third-worst behind the Phoenix Suns (4.3 in six games) and Washington Wizards (3.5 in two games).

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By no means has the Warriors’ free-throw differential been a product of Lewis’ refereeing, rather it’s a consequence of the way in which they’ve played over the last decade or so. Still, there’s clear evidence to suggest his decision to retire won’t be harming the franchise’s chances heading into next season.

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