Jack Nies
Encyclopedia
Jack Nies (born November 11, 1937) is a retired National Basketball Association
(NBA) referee. Wearing #35 throughout his 31-year career, only Dick Bavetta
and Joey Crawford have had more years of NBA officiating experience than Nies. Nies officiated 2046 regular-season games throughout his career, making him the sixth referee to do so. In addition, Nies oversaw 150 playoff games, 10 NBA Finals
games, two NBA All-Star Games (1996
and 2005
), and the 1987 Legends Classic
. Internationally, he was part of the referee crew that oversaw the 1994 Mexico Challenge and the 1997 McDonald's Championship
.
Nies retired from the NBA following the 2008–09 season.
. He led the school to a state championship in 1955, and was awarded an All-State selection. Nies then played basketball for University of Saint Mary
in Kansas before graduating in 1961 with a degree in Psychology
and Philosophy
.
Nies then moved back to New Jersey and started refereeing high school basketball games while working as a special education
teacher in the local school district. He then officiated Eastern League games
from 1971 until 1978, when he was hired by the NBA. Then-New York Knicks
coach Red Holzman
helped by giving the league a letter of recommendation, having been impressed by his refereeing in a game he had seen in 1970.
On April 15, 2008, Nies refereed his 2000th NBA game as his homestate New Jersey Nets
overcame a 20-point deficit against the Charlotte Bobcats
112–108. On April 13, 2009, he officiated his last NBA game as the Portland Trail Blazers
defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder
.
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...
(NBA) referee. Wearing #35 throughout his 31-year career, only Dick Bavetta
Dick Bavetta
Richard T. "Dick" Bavetta is an American professional basketball referee for the National Basketball Association . Since starting in 1975, he has never missed an assigned game. By the start of the 2006–07 NBA season, he had worked 2,164 regular season and 228 playoff games, including 24 NBA...
and Joey Crawford have had more years of NBA officiating experience than Nies. Nies officiated 2046 regular-season games throughout his career, making him the sixth referee to do so. In addition, Nies oversaw 150 playoff games, 10 NBA Finals
NBA 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, two NBA All-Star Games (1996
1996 NBA All-Star Game
The 1996 NBA All-Star Game was the 46th edition of the NBA All-Star Game. The game was hosted at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls was selected MVP of the game.-Eastern All-Stars:-Western All-Stars:...
and 2005
2005 NBA All-Star Game
The 2005 NBA All-Star Game was a major basketball game played on February 20, 2005 at Pepsi Center home of Denver Nuggets featuring the best players in the National Basketball Association as selected by fans and coaches....
), and the 1987 Legends Classic
Legends Classic
The NBA All-Star Legends Game was an NBA Legends game from 1984 to 1993 that featured retired players. It was held during the NBA All-Star Weekend and consisted of two teams, East and West...
. Internationally, he was part of the referee crew that oversaw the 1994 Mexico Challenge and the 1997 McDonald's Championship
1997 McDonald's Championship
The 1997 McDonald's Championship took place at Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy in Paris.-Preliminary round:Qualifying games16 October 1997-Final round:-Places 5-6:18 October 1997-Final:*Chicago Bulls...
.
Nies retired from the NBA following the 2008–09 season.
Biography
Nies graduated from St. Peter's Preparatory SchoolSt. Peter's Preparatory School
Saint Peter's Preparatory School is a private all-male Jesuit college-preparatory school located in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA...
. He led the school to a state championship in 1955, and was awarded an All-State selection. Nies then played basketball for University of Saint Mary
University of Saint Mary (Kansas)
The University of Saint Mary is a private liberal arts university in Leavenworth, Kansas. It is sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, who established it as Saint Mary College. Though it was originally a school for women, the school is now coeducational. St. Mary's Academy for high...
in Kansas before graduating in 1961 with a degree in Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
and Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
.
Nies then moved back to New Jersey and started refereeing high school basketball games while working as a special education
Special education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
teacher in the local school district. He then officiated Eastern League games
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
from 1971 until 1978, when he was hired by the NBA. Then-New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
coach Red Holzman
Red Holzman
William "Red" Holzman was an NBA basketball player and coach probably best known as the head coach of the New York Knicks from 1967 to 1982. Holzman helped lead the Knicks to two NBA Championships in 1970 and 1973, and was elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1985...
helped by giving the league a letter of recommendation, having been impressed by his refereeing in a game he had seen in 1970.
On April 15, 2008, Nies refereed his 2000th NBA game as his homestate New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
overcame a 20-point deficit against the Charlotte Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
112–108. On April 13, 2009, he officiated his last NBA game as 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...
defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ; their home court is at Chesapeake Energy Arena....
.
NBA Finals games worked
- 2000 Finals2000 NBA FinalsThe 2000 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1999-2000 National Basketball Association season. The Los Angeles Lakers of the Western Conference took on the Indiana Pacers of the Eastern Conference for the title, with the Lakers holding home court advantage...
, Games 1 and 6 - 2001 Finals2001 NBA FinalsThe 2001 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 2000-01 National Basketball Association season. The Los Angeles Lakers of the Western Conference took on the Philadelphia 76ers of the Eastern Conference for the title, with the Lakers holding home court advantage in a best-of-seven format.The...
, Game 4 - 2002 Finals2002 NBA FinalsThe 2002 NBA Finals was the National Basketball Association championship series for the 2001–02 season. The best-of-seven playoff was contested between the Los Angeles Lakers, champions of the Western Conference and two-time defending NBA champions, and the New Jersey Nets, champions of the...
, Game 1 - 2003 Finals2003 NBA FinalsThe 2003 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 2002–03 NBA season. The San Antonio Spurs of the Western Conference took on the New Jersey Nets of the Eastern Conference for the title, with the Spurs holding home court advantage. The series was played under a best-of-seven format. The Spurs...
, Game 3 - 2004 Finals2004 NBA FinalsThe 2004 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 2003–04 National Basketball Association season. The Finals were between the Los Angeles Lakers of the Western Conference and the Detroit Pistons of the Eastern Conference; the Lakers held home court advantage...
, Game 4 (Lead official) - 2005 Finals2005 NBA FinalsThe 2005 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 2004-05 National Basketball Association season. The San Antonio Spurs of the Western Conference faced the Detroit Pistons of the Eastern Conference for the title, with the Spurs holding home court advantage. The series was played under a...
, Game 2 - 2006 Finals2006 NBA FinalsThe 2006 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2005–06 National Basketball Association season. The Miami Heat won the championship in six games over the Dallas Mavericks, winning the final game at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, and becoming the third team to win a championship...
, Game 3
External links
- Official profile @ National Basketball Referees Association