Bernie Fryer
Encyclopedia
Bernie W. Fryer has been Vice President and Director of Officials
for the National Basketball Association
since July 2008. He was a player in the NBA and American Basketball Association
(ABA) from 1973 to 1975 before serving as a referee from 1978 to 2007.
. In high school, he participated in football
and basketball and was named an "All-American" in both sports during his junior and senior season. Following high school, he attended and graduated from Brigham Young University
(BYU) in 1972. At BYU, he played basketball and was selected to the All-Western Athletic Conference
team from 1970 to 1972. He led the team in scoring in 1971 with 19.2 ppg to help the Cougars win the WAC championship.
in the seventh round of the 1972 NBA Draft
. He never played for the Suns, however, making his NBA debut with the Portland Trail Blazers
in 1973. He played 80 games for the Blazers during the 1973–74 season, and he was named to the All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 7.0 points and 3.5 assists per game. The following season, he split time between the New Orleans Jazz
of the NBA and the ABA's Spirits of St. Louis
, scoring 157 combined NBA/ABA points before retiring in 1975. Over his playing career, he averaged 6.3 points, 3.0 assists and 1.8 rebounds with the Trail Blazers and Jazz in the NBA and 7.8 points, 2.9 assists and 2.4 rebounds in nine games for the St. Louis Spirits in the ABA.
games as well as the 1998 All-Star Game
. He was also one of three former NBA players (Leon Wood
and Haywoode Workman
) who officiated in the league. During a 2002 playoff
game between the Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic
, Fryer and his officiating crew disallowed a field goal
made by the Hornets Baron Davis
. Davis received an inbound pass with 0.7 seconds remaining and successfully made the shot before the buzzer sounded. This incident led Commissioner
David Stern
to consider the use of instant replay
in NBA games. Considered one of the top-rated referees in the league, he retired in 2007 following Game 3 of the 2007 NBA Finals
. It was reported that Fryer was dissatisfied over the current state of management of officials.
and the NBA, as well as managing their on-court performance.
Official (basketball)
In basketball, an official is a person who has the responsibility to enforce the rules and maintain the order of the game. The title of official also applies to the scorers and timekeepers, as well as other personnel that have an active task in maintaining the game...
for the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
since July 2008. He was a player in the NBA and American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
(ABA) from 1973 to 1975 before serving as a referee from 1978 to 2007.
Early life
Fryer attended Port Angeles High School in Port Angeles, WashingtonPort Angeles, Washington
Port Angeles is a city in and the county seat of Clallam County, Washington, United States. The population was 19,038 at the 2010 census. The area's harbor was dubbed Puerto de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles by Spanish explorer Francisco de Eliza in 1791, but by the mid-19th century the name had...
. In high school, he participated in football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and basketball and was named an "All-American" in both sports during his junior and senior season. Following high school, he attended and graduated from Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
(BYU) in 1972. At BYU, he played basketball and was selected to the All-Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
team from 1970 to 1972. He led the team in scoring in 1971 with 19.2 ppg to help the Cougars win the WAC championship.
Professional basketball career
Fryer was selected by the Phoenix SunsPhoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
in the seventh round of the 1972 NBA Draft
1972 NBA Draft
The 1972 NBA Draft was the 26th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 10, 1972 before the 1972–73 season. In this draft, 17 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
. He never played for the Suns, however, making his NBA debut with the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
in 1973. He played 80 games for the Blazers during the 1973–74 season, and he was named to the All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 7.0 points and 3.5 assists per game. The following season, he split time between the New Orleans Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
of the NBA and the ABA's Spirits of St. Louis
Spirits of St. Louis
The Spirits of St. Louis were one of two teams still in existence at the end of the American Basketball Association that did not survive the ABA-NBA merger. They were a member of the ABA in its last two seasons, 1974–75 and 1975–76, while playing their home games at the St...
, scoring 157 combined NBA/ABA points before retiring in 1975. Over his playing career, he averaged 6.3 points, 3.0 assists and 1.8 rebounds with the Trail Blazers and Jazz in the NBA and 7.8 points, 2.9 assists and 2.4 rebounds in nine games for the St. Louis Spirits in the ABA.
Officiating career at NBA
After retiring as a player, Fryer embarked upon a lengthy career as an NBA referee, beginning in 1978. As of the beginning of the 2006–07 NBA season, he officiated 1,649 regular season, 145 playoff, and 11 NBA FinalsNBA Finals
The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
games as well as the 1998 All-Star Game
1998 NBA All-Star Game
The 1998 NBA All-Star Game was the 48th edition of the North American National Basketball Association All-Star Game. The event was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The East won the game 135–114. This game was the debut of Kobe Bryant as the youngest all-star in NBA history at 19...
. He was also one of three former NBA players (Leon Wood
Leon Wood
Osie Leon Wood III , is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1st round of the 1984 NBA Draft. A 6'3" shooting guard from Saint Monica Catholic High School and California State University-Fullerton, Wood played in six NBA seasons for...
and Haywoode Workman
Haywoode Workman
Haywoode Wilvon Workman is a retired American basketball player, and active NBA referee.He played the point guard position at 6'2", and played 359 games in eight NBA seasons for five teams from 1989 to 2000...
) who officiated in the league. During a 2002 playoff
2002 NBA Playoffs
The 2002 NBA Playoffs were the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2001–02 season. This would be the final postseason that held a best-of-5 first-round series; next year's postseason would see those series expanded to a best-of-7 format...
game between the Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
, Fryer and his officiating crew disallowed a field goal
Field goal (basketball)
In basketball, the term field goal refers to a basket scored on any shot or tap other than a free throw, worth two or three points depending on the distance of the attempt from the basket. "Field Goal" is the official terminology used by the National Basketball Association in their rule book,...
made by the Hornets Baron Davis
Baron Davis
Baron Walter Louis Davis is an American professional basketball player with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA. Drafted as the third pick in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets, Davis was a star at Crossroads School and UCLA....
. Davis received an inbound pass with 0.7 seconds remaining and successfully made the shot before the buzzer sounded. This incident led Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
David Stern
David Stern
David Joel Stern is the commissioner of the National Basketball Association. He started with the Association in 1966 as an outside counsel, joined the NBA in 1978 as General Counsel, and became the league's Executive Vice President in 1980. He became Commissioner in 1984 succeeding Larry O'Brien...
to consider the use of instant replay
Instant replay
Instant replay is the replaying of video footage of an event or incident very soon after it has occurred. In television broadcasting of sports events, instant replay is often used during live broadcast, to show a passage of play which was important or remarkable, or which was unclear on first...
in NBA games. Considered one of the top-rated referees in the league, he retired in 2007 following Game 3 of the 2007 NBA Finals
2007 NBA Finals
The 2007 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2006-07 National Basketball Association season, and was the conclusion of the 2007 NBA Playoffs. The best-of-seven series was played between the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs and the Eastern Conference champion Cleveland...
. It was reported that Fryer was dissatisfied over the current state of management of officials.
Director of Officials
During the 2007–08 season, Fryer served as the acting Assistant Director of Officials and Crew Chief Coordinator. He was appointed Vice President and Director of Officials in July 2008, overseeing the development and the transition of referees between the D-leagueNBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
and the NBA, as well as managing their on-court performance.