Top Nba Referee O’Donnell Calls It Quits After 28 Years

Jake O’Donnell, who officiated more than 2,100 regular-season games and 279 playoff games during his 28 years as an NBA referee, has retired, the league announced Thursday.

O’Donnell also worked 39 NBA Finals games during a career that began in 1967-68.

“Jake has been, without question, one of the greatest referees this league has ever had,” commissioner David Stern said.

O’Donnell’s retirement came the day the league officially ended its lockout of the referees. That move came three days after the refs narrowly agreed to a new contract.

O’Donnell and another veteran referee, Jack Madden, had not voted on the new contract, which passed by a one-vote margin.

The NBA officially ended the lockout of its referees and announced the regular refs would undergo a five-day training camp in Mahwah, N.J., in preparation for their return Tuesday.

Kevin Calabro has signed a contract as the Seattle Sonics play-by-play announcer for four more years, club officials said.