Tony Brothers

Tony Brothers has officiated 1,804 regular-season games in 31 seasons as an NBA staff official. He has also refereed 216 playoff games, including 19 NBA Finals games.

His assignments have also included the NBA China Games in 2008, the NBA Mexico City Game in 2024 and the NBA All-Star Game in 2009 (Phoenix) and 2024 (Indianapolis).

Brothers considers his most memorable NBA assignment to be his NBA Finals debut: Game 2 between the Miami Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2012.

Before joining the NBA, Brothers spent four years officiating in the Continental Basketball Association, including three Finals and an All-Star Game. Brothers also has seven years of high school officiating experience in Virginia and one year of work at the junior college level.

Brothers earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Old Dominion University in his native Norfolk, Va., in 1986 and returned to ODU to complete a Master of Public Administration in 2022, demonstrating his lifelong commitment to learning and public service.

In 2018, Brothers was awarded an honorary doctorate from Norfolk State University and delivered the fall commencement address. That year also marked a deeply personal milestone, as he established the Dorothy B. Brothers Auditorium at NSU in honor of his late mother, creating a lasting tribute to her legacy and her belief in the power of education and community.

Brothers has strong ties to his home state of Virginia. He currently serves as the commissioner of the Virginia Basketball Officials Association. In 2023, Brothers was inducted into the Hampton Roads Hall of Fame.

Brothers has six children.