The replacement referees that will be used when the preseason starts next month may get a chance to stick in the NBA.

According to the New York Times, 17 of the NBA's current referees started out as replacements.

That group includes some of the league's most well-known officials, such as Joey Crawford, Danny Crawford, Ken Mauer, Eddie F. Rush, Derrick Stafford, Bill Kennedy and Leon Wood.

"I think it speaks to the fact that our current staff of referees are the 60 best in the world," said Joel Litvin, the league's president for league and basketball operations, "and the referees who will replace them are probably pretty close to being the next best 60 in the world."