Scott Foster

Scott Foster (born April 8, 1967) is an American professional basketball referee for the National Basketball Association (NBA). He began officiating games for the NBA in the 1994–95 season and wears number 48.

Nicknamed "Agent 48" and "the Extender" by fans for seemingly lengthening playoff series, Foster has drawn much criticism from fans and players for his officiating. In an anonymized survey of nearly three dozen NBA players by the Los Angeles Times in 2016 and a separate anonymized survey of 108 NBA players by The Athletic in 2023, he was voted the worst referee in the NBA.

Early life Foster was born on April 8, 1967, in Silver Spring, Maryland. His father, Richard "Dicky" Foster, was a firefighter for Montgomery County, Maryland. Whenever Foster coached his younger brothers' basketball games at his local recreation center, he was required to officiate the following game, sparking his interest in becoming a referee. While attending the University of Maryland, Foster would officiate high school basketball games in Washington, D.C.

Critics of Foster have asserted that he issues technical fouls for seemingly arbitrary reasons, misses crucial foul calls, and favors certain teams. In February 2019, James Harden called Foster “rude and arrogant.” While serving as President of the National Basketball Players Association, Chris Paul often denounced Foster for favoring certain teams and players.