The lead negotiator for the NBA's referees finds it "amazing" that a former referee is on the league's preliminary list of replacement officials.

Michael Henderson, the referee in question, was at the center of a controversial job action nearly six years ago. At the time, his fellow referees issued public support for their peer.

On Feb. 27, 2004, 28 of the 30 referees working NBA games wore their jerseys turned inside-out and stenciled Henderson's number on their backs. He had been publicly criticized by the league for a blown call.

"On that night, all but two referees risked their jobs -- their jobs were being threatened at that very moment that they were going out to stand up for him by reversing their jerseys and putting his number on their jerseys," referees' union lead negotiator Lamell McMorris said. "They went out even though they were risking their jobs, and it's just absolutely amazing that now he is going to go and replace them."