NEW YORK — Veteran referee Tony Brown, who worked his first NBA Finals last season, has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and will miss the rest of the season.
The NBA announced Monday that Brown has been undergoing treatment since his diagnosis last month.
Brown, 54, has officiated 1,109 regular-season games, 35 playoff games and the 2018 All-Star Game in Los Angeles in his 19 seasons as an NBA official.
“He’s a heck of an official in the league,” Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder said before Monday night’s game at the Golden State Warriors. “You get to know guys, and someone that’s not only an excellent official but just a quality person. We wish him well and we’re thinking about him.”
Before moving to the NBA, Brown worked for four seasons in both the NBA G League and CBA and three seasons in the WNBA. During that time, he refereed the 2002 WNBA Finals, the 2002 WNBA All-Star Game and the 2001 CBA Finals.
“Tony is a beloved member of the NBA family, and in particular, our officiating family,” said Monty McCutchen, NBA senior vice president for referee development and training. “In addition to exemplifying what it means to be a world-class referee on the court, Tony also touches so many lives off the court.”