SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The late Darell Garretson, an NBA official for 27 years who attended Illinois State and played on the ISU men's basketball "B" team during the 1950-51 season, will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame during an enshrinement ceremony Friday night.
A native of Long Point, Illinois, Garretson officiated 1,798 regular season games, 269 playoff games, 41 NBA Finals games and five NBA All-Star games during his 27-year career. He was instrumental in organizing and heading the first union for referees, the National Association of Basketball Referees.
Garretson is widely considered the individual who shaped modern basketball officiating with a three-person crew and a focus on refereeing the defense.