Former NBA champion Richard Jefferson refereed Monday's Summer League game between the New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers. He took charge in the second quarter. The ESPN broadcaster cited multiple reasons for his switch to officiating. Here's what he tweeted:"Why do this? 1. Tremendous amount of knowledge about our game that I’ve learned sitting in classes with the best refs in the world.2. I do this because not many people would dare put themselves in this position. The more info I have the more informed I am as a broadcaster."Richard Jefferson@Rjeff24Why do this?1. Tremendous amount of knowledge about our game that I’ve learned sitting in classes with the best refs in the world 2.I do this because not many people would dare put themselves in this position. The more info I have the more informed I am as a broadcaster 🫡12601488Why do this?1. Tremendous amount of knowledge about our game that I’ve learned sitting in classes with the best refs in the world 2.I do this because not many people would dare put themselves in this position. The more info I have the more informed I am as a broadcaster 🫡Richard Jefferson sent fans into a frenzy when he walked out of the tunnel in the referee's uniform. According to many, Jefferson resembled a regular NBA referee. One fan wrote:“I'm crying cause he really look like he shoulda been a ref.”Another added:“He looks legit lol hire this man so he can ruin legacies.”Here are some of the best reactions to Richard Jefferson's debut as a referee:J@DatKidJacob21@NBA @Rjeff24 I'm crying cause he really look like he shoulda been a ref106@NBA @Rjeff24 I'm crying cause he really look like he shoulda been a refMuhammad marcalista@marcalista@NBA @Rjeff24 Hey @Rjeff24 you didn't get enough money during your playing career?4@NBA @Rjeff24 Hey @Rjeff24 you didn't get enough money during your playing career?Yuhitzme@yuhitzme810@NBA @Rjeff24 He got tired of having to deal with perk everyday6@NBA @Rjeff24 He got tired of having to deal with perk everydayDJ@zahtyre18@NBA @Rjeff24 Charles Barkley was right, ESPN makes you work way too much lol4@NBA @Rjeff24 Charles Barkley was right, ESPN makes you work way too much lolCooper Halpern@CooperHalpernRichard Jefferson just blew his first call as a ref, much to the delight of everyone in attendance2138140Richard Jefferson just blew his first call as a ref, much to the delight of everyone in attendance https://t.co/7Cic54Ox6YThomas Bal@TomBalios@BleacherReport @NBA Richard REFerson63819@BleacherReport @NBA Richard REFerson https://t.co/s4SuNBUdEs1stRdDraftPick@1stRdDraftPick@BleacherReport @NBA He looks legit lol hire this man so he can ruin legacies 561@BleacherReport @NBA He looks legit lol hire this man so he can ruin legacies 😂Prodigal Son 🇭🇹@RodnyeTheoc@BleacherReport @NBA Richard Jefferson has definitely found his calling.31@BleacherReport @NBA Richard Jefferson has definitely found his calling.Dr. Michele Martindill@Docsociology4#NBASummerLeague Gotta admit seeing Richard Jefferson ref for a quarter is highlight of Summer League!! twitter.com/BleacherReport…Bleacher Report@BleacherReportRichard Jefferson getting ready to ref (via @NBA)3895Richard Jefferson getting ready to ref 😂(via @NBA)https://t.co/B6dQWRgQSh#NBASummerLeague Gotta admit seeing Richard Jefferson ref for a quarter is highlight of Summer League!! twitter.com/BleacherReport…Jax@JaxzerraMfer doing side quests wow twitter.com/bleacherreport…Bleacher Report@BleacherReportRichard Jefferson getting ready to ref (via @NBA)51Richard Jefferson getting ready to ref 😂(via @NBA)https://t.co/B6dQWRgQShMfer doing side quests wow twitter.com/bleacherreport…Jeremy Cohen@TheCohencidenceKnicks player: *breathes*Richard Jefferson:2259261Knicks player: *breathes*Richard Jefferson: https://t.co/KHkuXFpGDDESPN@espn.@Rjeff24 is getting the hang of things 2789151.@Rjeff24 is getting the hang of things 😂 https://t.co/sBdA9QpHOvSHOWTIME Basketball@shobasketballRichard Jefferson after reffing one quarter61663Richard Jefferson after reffing one quarter https://t.co/Ceujzq6QdVMilkboy1516@1516Ish@Rjeff24 Richard Jefferson next time he's broadcasting during a controversial call:184251@Rjeff24 Richard Jefferson next time he's broadcasting during a controversial call: https://t.co/UeQ32gfvBNChris Williamson@CWilliamson44Richard Jefferson officiating tonight when somebody from the Blazers dunks on a Knicks player1489160Richard Jefferson officiating tonight when somebody from the Blazers dunks on a Knicks player https://t.co/svD7p70KpOSHOWTIME Basketball@shobasketballRichard Jefferson getting ready to ref the Knicks game51487Richard Jefferson getting ready to ref the Knicks game https://t.co/2NTk9DOVChSB Nation@SBNationa legendary summer league performance by @Rjeff245634282a legendary summer league performance by @Rjeff24 https://t.co/FqHHz2kk9U🏆LakersGuru🏆@GuruLakersRichard Jefferson’s Referee experience tonight21726Richard Jefferson’s Referee experience tonight https://t.co/yxnJz81OSPbuckets@bucketsrichard jefferson when it’s time to ref the 2nd quarter of a summer league game37549richard jefferson when it’s time to ref the 2nd quarter of a summer league game https://t.co/CdmIZTlqfkNBA Memes@NBAMemesEveryone's eyes are on Richard Jefferson—the referee 35025Everyone's eyes are on Richard Jefferson—the referee 😅 https://t.co/mhWNgx6VUrFo’ Times@moseskuminga@Rjeff24 Rj after leading the Blazers to a 65-14 quarter2881@Rjeff24 Rj after leading the Blazers to a 65-14 quarter https://t.co/m8Pvg4UaVHRexBanner@TheBeerBar0n321@Rjeff24 You do it so you can derail the Knicks summer league championship aspirations! Don't lie!1804@Rjeff24 You do it so you can derail the Knicks summer league championship aspirations! Don't lie!Richard Jefferson has far from perfect debut, aims to make a comeback next yearRichard Jefferson didn't have an easy foray into the world of officiating. His first call was overturned by another official. Jefferson ruled an out-of-bounds ball in favor of the New York Knicks, when it should've gone tp the Portland Trail Blazers.ClutchPoints@ClutchPointsApp. @Rjeff24’s first call as an NBA official gets met with HEAVY boo’s 41649. @Rjeff24’s first call as an NBA official gets met with HEAVY boo’s 😂 https://t.co/xNnWJExHZxJefferson then missed out on calling a made 3-point shot. He admitted his mistake and had a smoother time making calls after those two incidents.NBA@NBARJ forgot to signal it but the bucket is GOOD Richard Jefferson officiating Q2 on ESPN 2137580RJ forgot to signal it but the bucket is GOOD 🙌Richard Jefferson officiating Q2 on ESPN 2 https://t.co/L3zFMdii9eJefferson seems to have enjoyed his time as an official. He appeared at the announcer's table to discuss his experience, saying he would love to return to the Summer League next year and attend the officiating class.The Athletic NBA@TheAthleticNBARichard Jefferson running it back next year as a Summer League ref? 🤔 @SportsCenter | @Rjeff24587Richard Jefferson running it back next year as a Summer League ref? 🤔🎥 @SportsCenter | @Rjeff24 https://t.co/ofDRspdRqj"I will come back to Summer League next year and go to class," he said.