Bill Kennedy missed a chunk of the last NBA season with an injury. He was back this week, lighting up the preseason booth with his flair.
Referee Bill Kennedy reacts a game in March.
Referee Bill Kennedy reacts a game in March. | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Bill Kennedy is one NBA referees who fans actually like. Officiating is a thankless task, especially when both players and fans are yelling at you.
Kennedy, who came out as gay more than a decade ago, has endeared himself to the basketball community by spicing up his calls with some flair.
The longtime official is a favorite here at Outsports.
He came out publicly as gay in 2015 after an argument with Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo, and he was inducted into the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame earlier this year.
Related
Get off the sidelines and into the game
Our weekly newsletter is packed with everything from locker room chatter to pressing LGBTQ sports issues.
After missing a large chunk of games last season with a knee injury, Kennedy was back and better than ever on Wednesday night during a preseason game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Indiana Pacers.
“Good evening. We just want to say thank you for coming out and supporting NBA basketball, Iowa State,” Kennedy said in his return to the mic. Iowa State hosted the preseason matchup as a bit of a “homecoming” for former Cyclone player Tyrese Haliburton, now with the Pacers.
“However, the offensive foul that was called has been overturned to a blocking foul, and Minnesota will go to the line to shoot one free throw.”
Kennedy knows how to work a crowd like a showman, and while a lot of people want referees to blend into the background and do their job, there’s no harm in enjoying oneself and adding some fun to an otherwise boring endeavor.
Kennedy often garners thousands of views on social media when he has a funny booth review, and this interaction with the fans in Iowa has over 136,000 views on Bleacher Report.
Related
Kennedy started officiating part-time during the 1996 NBA season and has been a full-time official since the 1999 season. He has officiated six NBA Finals games and 139 playoff games.
He remains the only current NBA official to be publicly out as LGBTQ. Former referee Violet Palmer is also gay, and she retired from the league in 2016.
Subscribe to the Outsports newsletter to keep up with your favorite out athletes, inspiring LGBTQ sports stories, and more.
Shawn Laib is a freelance journalist with sportswriting experience for Yardbarker, Stadium Rant and more. He enjoys basketball, football, and tennis. He loves looking at the intersection of LGBTQ+ culture and sports. Still awaiting the Seattle SuperSonics' return.
Connect with Shawn Laib:
Support independent LGBTQ Sports Journalism
For the past 27 years, Outsports has made sure LGBTQ+ athletes have a place to be seen and celebrated. Join as a member to be part of our future.