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Joey Crawford knew as a kid he wanted to be a referee, and it led him to the Basketball Hall of Fame
Crawford officiated more than 2,500 regular-season games and 50 NBA Finals before his temper and controversies made him a lightning rod.
- More than a decade after his final NBA game, Joey Crawford is being enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026, honoring his legendary officiating career.
- Crawford, the son of National League umpire Shag Crawford, officiated more than 2,500 regular-season games, nearly 400 postseason contests, and 50 in the NBA Finals with no backup plan.
- While often a lightning rod for critics due to his temper, Crawford evolved into one of the game's most beloved figures by prioritizing getting the call right regardless of venue.
- Doc Rivers noted that "everybody should have a Joe Crawford experience," while coach Mike D'Antoni added that "with Joey, especially if you were away from home, you had a chance to win."
- Crawford retired after his final game on November 8, 2015, in Cleveland, joining fewer than two dozen referees ever enshrined in The Hall.
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Joey Crawford knew as a kid he wanted to be a referee, and it led him
Joey Crawford had no backup plan. He would watch Philadelphia 76ers games in the 1960s, and probably unlike most kids growing up in that area around that time he had no aspirations of becoming the next Wilt Chamberlain or Billy Cunningham. Crawford was the son of a baseball umpire — Shag Crawford worked in the National League for about 20 years. And that’s why, when watching basketball, Joey Crawford was drawn to the referees. It was the family …
·Baltimore, United States
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Associated Press News+19 Reposted by 19 other sources
Joey Crawford knew as a kid he wanted to be a referee, and it led him to the Basketball Hall of Fame
Joey Crawford is getting enshrined in this year’s Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class, more than a decade after his final NBA game.
·New York, United States
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Total News Sources22
Leaning Left9Leaning Right3Center10Last UpdatedBias Distribution45% Center
Bias Distribution
- 45% of the sources are Center
45% Center
L 41%
C 45%
14%
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