Steve Javie: Sun sets down on the career of legendary NBA referee
After signing a new five-year contract with the league earlier this week, the NBA referees had received the assurance of returning whenever the lockout finishes. However, one of the most senior and top ranked official in NBA, Steve
Javie won’t be seen around in the next season as he is retiring from the league.
The coveted NBA referee, who has regulated the game for the last 25 years, is calling it quits as a result of an arthritic right knee which has troubled him for the last two years.
Back in 2009-2010, the knee injury forced the 56-year-old Javie to miss the end of the season. When everybody uncertain as to whether Steve will be able to make a comeback as a referee after battling through his knee issues, Javie
returned last season and completed his 25-years.
However, the injury became more severe after the 2010-2011 season and upon doctor’s advice that another year was not realistic, the famous NBA referee decided to file his retirement papers.
While talking about his retirement, Steve Javie told an ESPN reporter, "I would like to stay at it and end it on my own terms, but in a way I feel as if I'm doing that in that I got to work that 25th year. Adrenaline is an amazing
drug. The two weeks after the season, the knee was so painful I couldn't believe it. My doctor said it was because the adrenaline from the season had finally worn off. Every time I start to think maybe I still could do it, my knee has let me know, one way
or another, that I can't."
Steve worked as a referee in the first and last game of the 2011 NBA Finals between the eventual Champions Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat which made him one of the only six referee’s who officiated two games in the Finals. The
National Basketball Association has reserved this honour for the top-ranked referees which reflects the kind of reputation Javie had in the league.
Although Steve Javie won’t be seen as an NBA referee next time around, however the fans might see him taking care of some other job as he wants to be in touch with the basketball.
"I would like to keep a hand in basketball, as a consultant for the NBA or somewhere else” Javie said.
Steve’s most memorable game as a referee was in April 2003 in which he regulated the last 48 minutes of the Hall of Famer Michael Jordan’s NBA career as a player. After the game, Javie congratulated Chicago Bulls’ elite Jordan
and complemented him as a ‘Class Act’.
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