NBA reinstates referee Crawford, 5 months after Duncan ejection

The league announced Crawford’s reinstatement in a news release after the 31-year veteran met with NBA Commissioner David Stern.

“Based on my meeting with Joey Crawford, his commitment to an ongoing counseling program, and a favorable professional evaluation that was performed at my direction, I am satisfied that Joey understands the standards of game management and professionalism the NBA expects from him,” Stern said in a statement.

An e-mail to the National Basketball Referees Association seeking comment wasn’t immediately returned.

Crawford, 56, ejected Duncan from a San Antonio Spurs’ game against the Dallas Mavericks on April 15 after the player received his second technical foul while sitting on the bench and laughing. After the game, Duncan said Crawford challenged him to a fight.

Two days later, Crawford was suspended at least through the playoffs after the NBA said he “failed to meet the standards of professionalism and game management” expected of NBA officials.

NBA referees must be re-hired each season based on performance evaluations. A 20-year official makes about US$300,000 annually, the referees’ association said.

Crawford was among NBA referees charged with federal tax violations in an airline-ticket scam. He pleaded guilty in 1998 to not reporting income gained after downgrading league-provided first-class airline tickets to coach and pocketing the difference. He was sentenced to six months of home confinement and resigned from the NBA. The league reinstated Crawford at the start of the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season.

His latest reinstatement comes as the league is investigating gambling by referees. One former official, Tim Donaghy, pleaded guilty last month to federal fraud and conspiracy charges following an FBI investigation into illegal betting on games.

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