Norm Drucker
Encyclopedia
Norm Drucker was a major influence in professional basketball
officiating for over thirty-five years.
He refereed in the National Basketball Association
from 1953 to 1969. In 1969, when the upstart American Basketball Association
was raiding the NBA for talent, he, along with three other top NBA "lead" referees—Joe Gushue, Earl Strom
and John Vanak—jumped to the ABA with multi-year contracts. As a result, professional officiating salaries dramatically increased.
In the ABA, Drucker officiated and also served as the league's Supervisor of Officials. With the ABA-NBA merger
in 1976, Drucker returned to the NBA. He retired as an official in 1977 after having officiated in over 25 NBA and ABA championship-round games and in 3 NBA and 2 ABA all-star games.
In his 24-year career, Drucker was well-known for his even-handed officiating for visiting teams in an era when many NBA officials were criticized as "homers" - favoring the home team. On the court, he holds the distinction of being the only referee ever to eject Wilt Chamberlain
from an NBA game, calling two technical fouls on Chamberlain on March 15, 1967.
In the early 1960s he was involved in a heated "feud" with legendary Boston Celtic coach Red Auerbach
. His second ejection of Auerbach in a one-month period led to the coach's suspension by NBA president Maurice Podoloff
.
After retiring as an official, he served as the NBA's Supervisor of Officials from 1977 through 1981 where he advocated the use of three referees per game. The NBA adopted the three-man officiating system for the 1978–79 season, although the league returned to two officials the next season. The three-official system returned in the 1988–89 season and has been used by the NBA since.
In 1989, he joined the World Basketball League
, a minor league, as its first Director of Operations and Supervisor of Officials, a position he held for the four-year life of that league.
Drucker played college basketball at City College of New York
(CCNY) under Hall of Fame Coach Nat Holman
and
at Erasmus Hall High School
in Brooklyn. In 1994, he was inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame. He played professionally for the Trenton Tigers
in the American Basketball League and for the Troy Celtics
in the New York State Professional League from 1946 to 1949. He served as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army during World War II. His son, Jim Drucker, served as commissioner of two professional sports leagues, the Continental Basketball Association
from 1978 to 1986 and the Arena Football League from 1994 to 1996, and was ESPN
's legal correspondent from 1989 to 1993.
Drucker is retired and lives in North Miami Beach, Florida
.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
officiating for over thirty-five years.
He refereed in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
from 1953 to 1969. In 1969, when the upstart American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
was raiding the NBA for talent, he, along with three other top NBA "lead" referees—Joe Gushue, Earl Strom
Earl Strom
Earl "Yogi" Strom was a professional basketball referee for 29 years in the National Basketball Association and for three years in the American Basketball Association . Strom is credited as the greatest referee in the history of the NBA and was known for his flamboyant style and ability to...
and John Vanak—jumped to the ABA with multi-year contracts. As a result, professional officiating salaries dramatically increased.
In the ABA, Drucker officiated and also served as the league's Supervisor of Officials. With the ABA-NBA merger
ABA-NBA merger
The ABA–NBA merger was the merger of the American Basketball Association with the National Basketball Association, which after multiple attempts over several years finally occurred in 1976.- Origins of ABA-NBA competition :...
in 1976, Drucker returned to the NBA. He retired as an official in 1977 after having officiated in over 25 NBA and ABA championship-round games and in 3 NBA and 2 ABA all-star games.
In his 24-year career, Drucker was well-known for his even-handed officiating for visiting teams in an era when many NBA officials were criticized as "homers" - favoring the home team. On the court, he holds the distinction of being the only referee ever to eject Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American professional NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; he also played for the Harlem Globetrotters prior to playing in the NBA...
from an NBA game, calling two technical fouls on Chamberlain on March 15, 1967.
In the early 1960s he was involved in a heated "feud" with legendary Boston Celtic coach Red Auerbach
Red Auerbach
Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach was an American basketball coach of the Washington Capitols, the Tri-Cities Blackhawks and the Boston Celtics. After he retired from coaching, he served as president and front office executive of the Celtics until his death...
. His second ejection of Auerbach in a one-month period led to the coach's suspension by NBA president Maurice Podoloff
Maurice Podoloff
Maurice Podoloff was a U.S. lawyer and basketball and ice hockey administrator. He was the first president of the National Basketball Association...
.
After retiring as an official, he served as the NBA's Supervisor of Officials from 1977 through 1981 where he advocated the use of three referees per game. The NBA adopted the three-man officiating system for the 1978–79 season, although the league returned to two officials the next season. The three-official system returned in the 1988–89 season and has been used by the NBA since.
In 1989, he joined the World Basketball League
World Basketball League
World Basketball League was a minor professional basketball league in the United States and Canada. It was founded as the International Basketball Association in November 1987, before changing its name prior to the 1988 season. One of the major differences between it and other leagues was that it...
, a minor league, as its first Director of Operations and Supervisor of Officials, a position he held for the four-year life of that league.
Drucker played college basketball at City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
(CCNY) under Hall of Fame Coach Nat Holman
Nat Holman
Nat Holman was one of the early pro basketball players and one of the game's most important innovators.-Career:...
and
at Erasmus Hall High School
Erasmus Hall High School
Erasmus Hall Campus High School is a four-year public high school in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, United States operated by the New York City Department of Education....
in Brooklyn. In 1994, he was inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame. He played professionally for the Trenton Tigers
Trenton Tigers
The Trenton Tigers were an American basketball team based in Trenton, New Jersey that was a member of the American Basketball League.In the 1946/47 season, the team made it to the championship playoffs where they were to meet the Baltimore Bullets...
in the American Basketball League and for the Troy Celtics
Troy Celtics
-Troy Haymakers/Celtics:The Troy Haymakers were an American basketball team based in Troy, New York that was a member of the American Basketball League....
in the New York State Professional League from 1946 to 1949. He served as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army during World War II. His son, Jim Drucker, served as commissioner of two professional sports leagues, the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
from 1978 to 1986 and the Arena Football League from 1994 to 1996, and was ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's legal correspondent from 1989 to 1993.
Drucker is retired and lives in North Miami Beach, Florida
North Miami Beach, Florida
North Miami Beach is a Miami suburban city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. Originally named Fulford in 1926 after Captain William H. Fulford of the United States Coast Guard, the city was incorporated in 1927 as Fulford, but was renamed North Miami Beach in 1931. The population was...
.