Danny Crawford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Danny Crawford
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Crawford in 2012
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| Born | November 23, 1953 |
| Occupation | NBA Referee |
| Spouse(s) | Claudia |
| Children | 2 including Drew |
Danny Crawford (born November 23, 1953) is a retired American professional basketball referee. He worked in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Danny Crawford was known for his long and successful career. He was a referee for 32 seasons.
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Who is Danny Crawford?
Danny Crawford was a very respected referee in the NBA. He started officiating games in 1985. He worked at least one NBA Finals game every season from 1995 until his retirement. This shows how important he was to the league. He even made his 23rd straight NBA Finals appearance in 2017.
Early Life and Becoming a Referee
Danny Crawford grew up in East Garfield Park. This is a neighborhood on the West Side of Chicago. He went to Ryerson Elementary School. He was a basketball star at Cregier High School.
In 1976, Crawford graduated from Northeastern Illinois University. He played basketball there as a guard. He averaged 18 points per game in his second year. He studied physical education. He hoped to become a gym teacher.
Officiating started as a way to earn extra money. He refereed games for fun and for school sports. He began to take it seriously in the late 1970s. He started with high school games. Then he moved to junior college games. After that, he officiated Division 1 college basketball games. He worked in the Missouri Valley Conference.
His Amazing NBA Career
Danny Crawford's first NBA game was in the 1984–85 season. He quickly became one of the league's top referees. In 2016, he officiated his third NBA All-Star Game. This is a special game where the best players in the league play against each other. Being chosen to referee this game is a big honor.
In 2016, the LA Times asked NBA players who they thought was the best referee. Danny Crawford received the most votes. This shows that players respected his work. During an NBA game in 2013, he was accidentally hit by player Carlos Boozer.
Key Moments and Achievements
- He refereed for 32 seasons in the NBA.
- He worked at least one NBA Finals game every year from 1995 to 2017.
- He officiated three NBA All-Star Games.
- NBA players voted him as the best referee in a 2016 survey.
Life Outside the Court
Danny Crawford has a son named Drew. Drew is also a professional basketball player.
On August 2, 2017, Danny Crawford officially retired from being an NBA referee. He had a long and successful career.
See also
In Spanish: Dan Crawford para niños
