2026 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame referee Joey Crawford began officiating NBA games in 1977. He was hired by the league at age 26 after working in high-school basketball and the Eastern Basketball Association.
Crawford went on to build one of the longest and most recognizable officiating careers in NBA history. His NBA career lasted from 1977 through 2016, covering four decades of professional basketball.
He officiated regular-season games, playoff contests, NBA Finals series and All-Star Games. His style was highly visible, and he became known for strict technical-foul calls and animated interactions with players and coaches.
The year 1977 refers to his NBA start, not the beginning of all his officiating. Crawford had already spent years officiating high-school games in Pennsylvania and had worked in the Eastern Basketball Association before joining the NBA.