Dick Bavetta’s first game as an NBA referee was a Celtics-Knicks game at Madison Square Garden was Dec. 2, 1975. The first game I covered as a writer with Dick Bavetta as an NBA referee also was a Celtics-Knicks game, almost 14 years later.
The once-mighty Celtics were fighting to make the playoffs. Larry Bird had missed most of the season with a back injury. His replacement was Kevin Gamble, a second-year player already on his second team.
Early on, there was a whistle and Gamble launched a practice shot. Moments later, another whistle and another practice shot from Gamble.
The ball went out of bounds off the Knicks, and Bavetta ran it down. Gamble was inbounding on the sideline, right in front of myself and the late Bill Barnard, the AP NBA writer at the time. Bavetta handed the ball to Gamble, but not before giving him direct instructions.
“Son, when I blow the whistle, hold the ball. Do we understand each other?”
Clearly flustered at being scolded, Gamble could only mutter, “Yes.” He didn’t take any more practice shots.
The NBA announced Tuesday that Bavetta, 74, would be retiring after 39 years and 2,635 consecutive games. He never missed an assignment as an NBA referee and spent a portion of his career at the top of his profession.
“I am most proud of never having missed an assigned game, be it exhibition, regular season or playoffs, throughout my entire career,” Bavetta said in a statement. “It really has been a great run.”
Bavetta worked a staggering 270 playoff games, including 27 Finals games. However, he had not worked a Finals game since 2008 and was clearly no longer among the game’s best officials.
In the 1990s under NBA directors of officiating Darell Garretson and Ed T. Rush, referees began taking a less cordial approach with players and coaches. There was far less acknowledgement of complaints; some referees flat-out ignored players and coaches.
But not Bavetta, who was always willing to listen as long as a player or coach presented his case respectfully.
Bavetta’s personality always showed through, whether he began sprinting in the opposite direction after calling a traveling violation, spending time with team mascots during timeouts or racing Charles Barkley for charity.
Bavetta wasn’t perfect. Sacramento Kings fans still hold a grudge against him for a road loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference finals. The Lakers shot 40 free throws to 25 for the Kings, including a 27-9 edge in the fourth quarter. And Bavetta was one of a handful of officials fingered by disgraced referee Tim Donaghy, who was caught fixing games in 2007.
A Brooklyn native, Bavetta attended Power Memorial Academy – the same high school as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – and St. Francis College (NY). He was the first NBA ref chosen to work the 1992 Olympics and also officiated three All-Star Games.
“Dick’s dedication and commitment to his craft has been an inspiration to all NBA officials,” NBA president Rod Thorn said in a statement. “We are grateful for his contributions to our league, and we wish him the best as he enjoys his well-earned retirement.”