At the start of the league’s yearly preseason refereeing meetings on Sunday, Fitzgerald, 41, started his new job in a formal capacity. At the start of the league’s yearly preseason refereeing meetings on Sunday, Fitzgerald, 41, started his new job in a formal capacity.
Fitzgerald stated, “I’ve always been eager to take on new challenges, and this is a unique chance to retire as a referee and land a job of this stature in the NBA. “I’m enthusiastic about the challenge, something new and different, to see if I can develop in the role and achieve the same success that I have on the floor.”
Fitzgerald’s track career has seen a steady ascent in the charts.
His father di Lui, a referee for 49 years who still works at the games, introduced him to the job when he was 18 and he began working as a high school game official in his native New Jersey.
Following high school, Fitzgerald attended colleges in the Big South, Atlantic Sun, and Ohio Valley Conferences before playing in the WNBA for two years and the G League for four more. He was chosen for four NBA Finals contests, the most recent being the Boston-Golden State series last year. Kane is qualified to supervise our efforts to uphold the highest standards for the NBA Replay Center because of his extensive experience and a great experience as an NBA official, according to Byron Spruell, president of the NBA Championships. We are happy that he will fill such a crucial leadership position with his experience and abilities.
Fitzgerald will be in charge of managing day-to-day activities at the NBA Replay Center in Secaucus, New Jersey, in his new position. He also takes part in refereeing activities including making instructional DVDs and explaining game regulations to teams, referees, broadcasters, and the media.
Fitzgerald will be able to develop a more regular schedule with his family thanks to the move.
His house is currently in Florida, and his job is in New Jersey, so work will still be hard and include travel, but missing 50 or more games a year will improve the work-life balance.
In the last 17 years, I’ve probably had Christmas on Christmas Day five times, Fitzgerald remarked. “And last year was the first time I spent Thanksgiving at home. Therefore, this program will result in some extremely positive changes for the family.”