If there's one thing Knicks and Spurs fans can agree on right now, it's that NBA officials are public enemy number one. But one referee is facing a unique kind of heat — he's gunning for public office.
Tony Brothers, the veteran official working Game 2 of the NBA Finals, has his eyes on a different kind of court. The 61-year-old referee, who has spent 32 seasons blowing whistles in the league, is planning to run for mayor of Norfolk, Virginia, once he hangs up his stripes in 2028.
ESPN confirmed the news back in May, and Brothers already has a campaign website up and running. His tagline? “Bringing Norfolk together with real solutions for safer streets, affordable housing, and stronger communities.” It's a noble pitch, but the internet had other ideas.
As word spread during Game 2, fans — many still smarting from controversial calls — took to social media to roast the would-be politician. “Whoever is running against Tony Brothers in the City of Norfolk in 2028 you have my unwavering support,” one fan posted. Another joked, “I am willing to donate $100k to his opponents campaign regardless of political ideology.”
The jokes kept coming. “My brother lives in Norfolk and TRUST I will be telling him to vote for Tony's opponent,” a third wrote. “I wouldn’t vote for Tony Brothers if he was running against Stalin himself,” another fan declared. And in a twist that perfectly captures the bipartisan nature of sports hate, the backlash came from both Knicks and Spurs fans alike — no love lost between them, but plenty to spare for Brothers.
Brothers has deep ties to Virginia, holding high-ranking positions in various sports organizations there. But if Norfolk has a significant population of Knicks or Spurs supporters, his campaign could be in trouble. The online brigade is already rallying behind his future opponent, with one fan even offering to back the other side “so help me God.”
The timing of Brothers' political ambitions is especially interesting given the current buzz around the NBA Finals. The series has already seen its share of drama, including fans ripping the national anthem performance at Game 2 and Commissioner Adam Silver embracing Trump's presence as a unifying moment. Meanwhile, Knicks fans have told Trump to stay away from MSG, adding another layer of political intrigue to the Finals.
Brothers may have a long road ahead before he trades his whistle for a podium. But one thing is clear: if he hopes to win over voters in Norfolk, he might want to start with a few less controversial calls on the court.
