Dick Bavetta Inducted in 2012
Dick Bavetta
Richard W. Bavetta was born in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. He attended Power Memorial Academy High School in New York City. Bavetta then later attended St. Francis College in New York where he played on the basketball team.
He began officiating after his brother, Joe, who officiated for the American Basketball Association, convinced him that it would be an interesting career. Bavetta began officiating games between fellow brokers in the Wall Street League, at New York's Downtown Athletic Club, and he later worked high school games. For ten years, he officiated Public and Catholic High School leagues in New York and later nine years in the Eastern Professional Basketball League, which later became the Continental Basketball Association. He debuted in the NBA in 1975 and never missed an assigned game, and he holds the league record for most officiated games with 2,635.
He began officiating after his brother, Joe, who officiated for the American Basketball Association, convinced him that it would be an interesting career. Bavetta began officiating games between fellow brokers in the Wall Street League, at New York's Downtown Athletic Club, and he later worked high school games. For ten years, he officiated Public and Catholic High School leagues in New York and later nine years in the Eastern Professional Basketball League, which later became the Continental Basketball Association. He debuted in the NBA in 1975 and never missed an assigned game, and he holds the league record for most officiated games with 2,635.