OKLAHOMA CITY — For NBA players, the prize is the gold trophy. For NBA referees, the prize is the white jacket.

And for Tyler Ford and Ben Taylor, the jacket has arrived. Soon, so will the moment they've worked a long time for — they're going to be blowing the whistle at the NBA Finals .

Ford and Taylor were the two first-time selections on a roster of 12 referees that were announced Tuesday as those picked to work the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers. The series begins Thursday in Oklahoma City.

“That jacket's really sweet and it's sort of our trophy,” Ford said. “There's a special significance to the white jacket. Everybody's who's been in the finals or aspires to do the finals recognizes that. You get one when you're an alternate because you walk out

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