Veteran referee Greg Willard passed away on Monday after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
“Greg epitomized what it meant to be an NBA Referee through dedication to his craft, hard work, and integrity both on and off the court,” said NBRA general counsel Lee Seham in a statement Tuesday. “He was not only a great NBA Referee, but more importantly, a wonderful person, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”
Willard, 54, spent 24 seasons as an NBA referee, starting in 1988 and officiating 1,515 regular-season games, 134 playoff games, and three NBA Finals games.