Joey Crawford had officiated 50 NBA Finals games by the end of the 2014–15 season.
That total made Crawford the active referee with the most NBA Finals games at that point. He worked every Finals series from 1986 through 2015 except the 2007 series, which he missed while suspended.
Crawford’s NBA officiating career lasted from 1977 to 2016, covering four decades. He also became known for his strict technical-foul style and his highly recognizable gestures during games.
The figure of 50 refers specifically to NBA Finals games, not all playoff games. By the end of the same 2014–15 season, Crawford had worked 313 playoff games in total, a much larger number because it includes every postseason round. That distinction is a common source of confusion when comparing his records.