Double overtime, nailbiters, a photo-finish, and an almost Chris Webber (trademark pending by the man himself) – that was Kevin Durant’s blockbuster regular season start for Houston. Meeting the defending champions with another young core behind him was exactly as advertised. The game ended 125-124 in OKC’s favor after MVPs tied the scores. While his first win in a Rockets jersey should be a ‘goshdarnit’ moment for KD, he should be grateful for the results. He almost caused a huge no-no and only got away with it because Eric Dalen didn’t do anything. Who is Eric Dalen? Just the guy with the whistle.

The NBA is back on NBA and things got intense. The Rockets vs Thunder match in Paycom Center in Oklahoma City provided the most thrills of the season opener as Kevin Durant took on reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA tied the game at 104 with two seconds left, Alperen Sengun missed a jumper, and the game went into overtime. That’s when a little moment had the Internet adjust their monocles for a better look.

Who is Eric Dalen?

Eric Dalen was born on July 12, 1972 in Minnetonka, Minnesota. He resides in Cincinnati, Ohio when he’s not traveling for NBA games.

Dalen graduated from the University of Minnesota where he was actually a football star. He played tightend and was a letter-winner for two years. No clue on how he got into basketball instead of making a beeline for the NFL.

He’s married and a father of two children. But that’s about it for his personal life.

Eric Dalen’s NBA Career Highlights

According to the NBA Referees website, Dalen “officiated 752 regular-season games and two playoff games in 15 seasons as an NBA staff official. He also refereed the 2012 Rising Stars during NBA All-Star in Orlando.” 

His favorite officiating memory was his first game as fulltime ref: Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets on Nov. 1, 2008. Despite decades of experience, refs aren’t immune to the occasional – okay, not that occasional – mistake. Dalen was not a factor in the outcome of tonight’s game actually. He, however, is responsible for that second overtime.

The Rockets vs OKC Opening Night Incident

Houston and Thunder were tied at 115 with 4.7 seconds left in the first overtime. Shai’s potential game-winner was blocked and KD got the possession with all the potential to overturn the game. He tried to call a timeout to get a walk-off shot. The big no-no is he forgot that Houston didn’t have any timeouts left. This is what has gone down in history as ‘The Chris Webber.’

The icon himself pulled that in the NCAA championship game. It invites a technical foul and it cost Webb’s team the championship and would haunt his entire legacy. KD almost did that to himself. If a referee had called it.

The officiating team of crew chief Zach Zarba, referee Eric Dalen and umpire Jason Goldenberg didn’t recognize the timeout before the buzzer sounded, sending the game to a second overtime. If he had got that tech, OKC would have gotten the free throws and possibly win the game in the first overtime. By all intents and purposes, Kevin Durant got away with a huge mistake.

SGA drew his sixth foul on KD in the second overtime, made two free throws, and put the Thunder at 125-123 to win their first game off a championship. So yeah, KD not getting the tech didn’t change the outcome of the game. He just evaded the blame for it.

He couldn’t avoid the meme treatment. And really, the funny comparisons to Chris Webber are not really bad. It’s actually the referee Eric Dalen catching the heat on a night where the officiants have irritated NBA viewers everywhere.

The referees have stolen the 2025-26 season opener across all games. Eric Dalen’s going to have more scrutiny on him for the rest of the season because he let this one pass.

Why is Eric Dalen Facing Criticism?

Although Chris Webber iconized this moment in the NCAA and would never repeat this mistake in the NBA, the rule applies. The NBA’s 2025-26 Official Rules address that specific situation in Rule No. 12 — Fouls and Penalties reads as follows:

“Requests for a timeout in excess of the authorized number shall be granted, and a technical foul shall be assessed. Following the timeout and free-throw attempt, the ball will be awarded to the team which shot the free throw, and play shall resume with a throw-in nearest the spot where play was interrupted.”

OKC players and coach Mark Daigneault were infuriated. They argued but nothing came of it. The game went on. Online, the reactions are more mocking Durant in tandem with Webber. The heat was taken off Dalen thanks to officiating drama at the Lakers-Warriors game.

A pool report is expected Tuesday night to explain the non-call on Durant’s attempted timeout. That might hardly cause a ripple since OKC won with or without that call.