Who is Tony Brothers, NBA referee? Looking at the professional career of one of the league's most famous and veteran officials

Referee Tony Brothers has been in the NBA since the 1994-95 season. He has officiated in 1,600 regular-season games and close to 180 postseason matches.

Before finding his mark in basketball's biggest and most lucrative business, he officiated games for the Continental Basketball Association (CBA).

Tony Brothers' first appearance in the NBA Finals was between the OKC Thunder and the Miami Heat in 2012. It was an experience he considered to be unlike anything else as a game official.

The spotlight was on several of the league's biggest and most marketable stars. The teams battling for the championship that year involved LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Kevin Durant, James Harden and Russell Westbrook.

Brothers considered the series to be the most memorable among all the biggest games that he's been tasked with officiating. The James-led Heat defeated Durant's Thunder in six games.

While he has largely been one of the NBA's best at calling games, he's also been criticized for playing favorites.

In 2020, a study showed that Tony Brothers was the most mentioned referee among fans on social media. He was followed closely by Scott Foster. The poll was conducted after the controversial playoff series between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors in 2018.

In tonight's game between the Sacramento Kings and the LA Clippers, some fans have lambasted him for his supposedly questionable calls against Sacramento.

Two successive fouls on Kings All-Star center Domantas Sabonis had some fans in uproar:

About the author

Michael Macasero brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coverage of basketball at Sportskeeda with over 18 years of diverse work experience. This includes stints at Convergys, Interpace and RunRepeat.

Michael's background in English and Journalism has provided him with the analytical skills and precision necessary for creating content, and he is a lifelong fan of the Boston Celtics. His favorite players include legends like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, modern stars like Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokic, as well as emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Michael respects Gregg Popovich, despite his contentious demeanor in interviews, and recognizes Popovich's genius in adapting his coaching style to maximize the talent on his roster over the years. Michael eagerly anticipates seeing how Popovich will structure the offense around emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Understanding the story and details is crucial to Michael's reporting philosophy and he believes overlooking details, particularly when pressed for time, can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions.

Aside from work, Michael's children are his hobbies, and he also likes to go running, swimming and weightlifting.

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