Joe Crawford, a colorful NBA referee for 39 years, was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on August 14 during enshrinement ceremonies in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Crawford is a 2008 graduate of Neumann University, earning his bachelor’s degree in liberal studies at age 58, four decades after graduating from Cardinal O’Hara High School.
One of the longest-tenured and most accomplished officials in NBA history, he served as an NBA referee from 1977-2016. During his career, he officiated 2,561 regular-season games (second most in NBA history), a record 374 playoff games and 50 NBA Finals games, working every Finals series from 1986- 2015.
“I’ve been blessed to have this wonderful life of family and friends and being recognized with the induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is one of the greatest honors of my life,” said Crawford.
Watch Crawford receive his orange jacket on Instagram.
In a recent article by Kerry Eggers, a veteran sportswriter, Crawford admits that earning his degree was challenging: “It was hard, but the people [at Neumann] showed me something. They worked with me, helped me get the degree. It took me 3 1/2 years to finish. I studied in hotels and on airplanes. It was work, but it was one of the greatest things I have ever done. I am very proud of it.”
Known for his demonstrative calls and willingness to assess technical fouls, he is just the 9th referee inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
In the Crawford family, however, officiating is a calling. His father, Shag Crawford, was a Major League Baseball umpire in the National League from 1956 to 1975, and his brother, Jerry, was a major league umpire from 1976 through 2010.
Joining him in the Naismith class of 2026 are successful coaches (Mike D’Antoni, Mark Few, and Doc Rivers) and extraordinary players (Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw, Candace Parker, Amar’e Stoudemire, and the 1996 U.S. Women’s National Team).
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateurs and professionals, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally.