Referees and players remember Tony Brown for his cool and fair ways

MIAMI – In a league in which emotions often run hot, referee Tony Brown knew better than to meet fire with fire. That was something for the NBA’s players and coaches, not for somebody in his job.

“Tony was one of those referees, he never let us get under his skin,” Miami big man Bam Adebayo said Friday. “You know, throughout the 50-50 calls and us blowing up about it, intense moments, he was one of those referees I could go up to and say it with my emotion, but he wouldn’t take it that way.”

Brown, 55, died Thursday after battling pancreatic cancer. In 20 seasons, he officiated 1,110 regular-season games and 35 playoff games, including Game 4 of the 2020 Finals in which Adebayo’s Heat faced the Los Angeles Lakers.

Adebayo appreciated the space the veteran referee gave him when hashing out disputed calls.

“Yeah, because you’ll get teched up quick in this league,” the Miami player said. “That’s the thing. We could blow up and have our moment because we’re human. … Some referees get offended about it. Tony was one of those guys, I think I could blow up and be like ‘That’s bull!’ And he’d be like, ‘From my end, it was a foul.’ He kept it cool, calm and collected.”

Brown was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer in April 2021 but fought it tenaciously enough to return to work in the NBA’s replay center in Secaucus, N.J. last season.

“I haven’t had time to sit around and be like, ‘Why me?’” Brown told The Associated Press earlier this year. “Me not fighting would have made me feel like I was letting people down. What kind of example was I going to be to my kids if I just laid in bed and let it overtake me?”

A native of Tallahassee, Fla., Brown attended Florida A&M before transferring to Clark Atlanta University, where he completed a degree in finance. He worked at Delta Airlines while pursuing opportunities as a game official. He spent four seasons in the NBA G League and the Continental Basketball Association and three in the WNBA before reaching the NBA.

He was part of the crew for the 2021 All-Star Game featuring three referees who were graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, with Courtney Kirkland (Southern University) and Tom Washington (Norfolk State).

“He was a great man,” Boston veteran Al Horford said before the Celtics’ game against the Heat. “I actually got a chance to talk with him from time to time. He was always very respectful. Well-respected, well-regarded.”

Bob Delaney, longtime referee and later supervisor of officials, knew Brown in both capacities and visited him in hospice care shortly before his death.

“We lost two greats this year who wore No. 6 on the NBA floors,” Delaney said, referring also to legendary Celtics center Bill Russell. Brown’s referee jersey was No. 6, which will add poignancy for the referees to the patch worn by all players in the 2022-23 season.

“He was a great partner and he was a dedicated professional,” Delaney said. “Just had a million-dollar smile. And he was in such great shape, I remember one time the referees were talking about uniforms and I said, ‘If I had Tony Brown’s physique, I’d be refereeing without a shirt on.’

“The guy had a calm demeanor and was just a good human being to be around,” Delaney said. “On the road, you knew you would have conversations that went well beyond basketball.”

NBA commissioner Adam Silver in a statement called Brown “one of the most accomplished referees in the NBA and an inspiration to his colleagues.” He is survived by his wife Tina and children Bailey, Basile and Baylen.

Like so many referees, Brown’s passion for the game fueled his climb up the officiating ranks. “At some point, you know you’re not going to continue playing, except in a rec league,” Delaney said. “How can you stay a part of it at a high level? There are only three people who get to put their feet on the floor: Players, coaches and referees.”

The best referees often have the lowest profiles among fans and media, keeping the spotlight off themselves by staying professional but unobtrusive. Brown was one of those, not known for his personality or any notorious run-ins on YouTube with coaches or star players.

But Brown’s bio in the NBA’s officials guide gave a glimpse into who he was away from the arenas. His favorite musician: Michael Jackson. His favorite TV show: Sanford and Son. The place he most wanted to visit: Biyadhoo in the Maldives. And his hidden talent: Scuba diving.

Even if people didn’t know Brown, though, many knew him by reputation. That was what mattered most around the NBA.

“Man, to be honest, Tony had a great reputation in the league as an excellent ref,” Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon said. “I didn’t know the battle he was going through off the court – my condolences to his family. I did not know him well, we did not have a special relationship. But he was very good at what he did and very respected among NBA players, I can tell you that.”

When Brogdon ever saw that Brown was one of the officials working his team’s game that night, his reaction was the sort toward which Brown worked every time.

“We knew,” Brogdon said, “it was going to be fairly reffed.”

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Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.

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