Joey Crawford knew as a kid he wanted to be a referee, and it led him to the Basketball Hall of Fame
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…
NBA referee Joey Crawford dreamed of officiating games from a young age, inspired by his father Shag Crawford who worked as a baseball umpire in the National League. Growing up in an area where Philadelphia 76ers games were common, Crawford found himself watching referees rather than aspiring to be basketball players like Wilt Chamberlain or Billy Cunningham.
His father's determination to steer him away from a professional baseball career only solidified his ambition to become a referee. At just 13 years old, Crawford was certain that refereeing was his destined career path. It wasn't until decades later, after his final NBA game, that he would be inducted into the prestigious Basketball Hall of Fame.
Renowned for his legendary officiating numbers, Crawford called more than 2,500 regular-season games and nearly 400 postseason contests, with 50 of those being in the NBA Finals. Despite his reputation for fiery tempers and contentious calls, Crawford has become a beloved figure in the sport.
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