Published on May 1, 2023 at slamonline.com.
Let’s throw it back to Greek mythology for a second. Particularly, the story of Sisyphus. If you’re not privy to the aforementioned tale, the king of Ephyra was advantageously deceitful. Angering Zeus so much so that Sisyphus was condemned to push a boulder up a hill for eternity. Once at the top, the solid sphere of rock fell back to the base of the hill every time.
For former 25-year NBA referee Monty McCutchen, that recurring metaphorical journey has become a staple pillar in his weekly meetings with the League’s Referee Development Program. Perfection is impossible as an NBA official, but striving for excellence is always the case. And those inevitable mistakes, they lead to growth. It’s an aspect McCutchen is currently instilling within the program’s six proteges.
“When you realize you don’t have to be perfect, but that you are willing to push the rock up the mountain every day – every single day – then the pressure becomes an internal dialogue about how you personally want to achieve excellence,” McCutchen tells SLAM. “Not, whether I was perfect in Golden State last night or Oklahoma City or Memphis. And when I make a mistake, I’m going to meet it head-on and try to grow out of it. Training is what overcomes pressure.”
The NBA’s Referee Development Program was once an avenue for the League to attract former players to the profession. Just a few years ago, the program received a revitalized initiative centered on cultivating the next generation of officials. (READ THE FULL STORY HERE.)