DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Eric Lewis, Bethune-Cookman University Alum and Husband of Women's Head Basketball Coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis, has been named one of the 12 referees who will officiate the 2019 NBA Finals, which begins tonight with the Golden State Warriors at the Toronto Raptors.
The announcement was made by the NBA on Wednesday. Lewis is one of two officials who will be working their first finals. The 15-year veteran served as an alternate last year.
Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry was thrilled upon hearing the news.
"This is a great achievement for a hometown hero," the mayor said of Lewis' NBA finals assignment.
The announcement was made by the NBA on Wdnesday.
Daytona's Eric Lewis is one of two NBA officials who will be working their first finals. The 15-year veteran served as an alternate last year.
Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry, shown here, was thrilled upon hearing the news.
"This is a great achievement for a hometown hero," the mayor said of Lewis' NBA Finals assignment.
For his part, Lewis said in a video on the NBA Officials' web site that "For an official, to be at the top is to be at the Finals," and adding, "To make it there, it's a huge accomplishment and huge goal for all the referees."
The Daytona Beach native was a member of the basketball teams at Mainland High School and at Bethune-Cookman University.
"In each level of Eric's personal and professional life he seems to reach the pinnacle of success," BCU Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Lynn W. Thompson, said of Lewis. "No one deserves it more. He makes all of us so very proud!"
Lewis' wife led the Lady Wildcats to their first NCAA tournament appearance this season and her 11th season as the women's basketball coach.
"Words cannot express how proud I am of my husband," Vanessa Blair-Lewis said. "One of the best 12 in the NBA and OFFICIALLY in the white jacket."
Lewis and Kane Fitzgerald are the two newbies on this year's NBA Finals officiating roster. Vteran NBA refs Mike Callahan was picked to work the Finals for the 16th time, and Scott Foster for the 12th time. Rounding out the officiating are in the 12-man pool are Tony Brothers, James Capers, Marc Davis, John Goble, David Guthrie, Ed Malloy, Jason Phillips and Zach Zarba.
Finals officials are chosen based on evaluations made of their performance during the first three rounds of the playoffs, according to an ESPN story on the referees chosen. All 12 referees are slated to work at least once in the series, ESPN said.
The best of seven series is being broadcast on ABC.
Individual game assignments for referees will be posted at NBA.com/official at approximately 9 a.m. ET on game days.