Never before have NBA players been so athletic. Some can run fast enough to qualify as an Olympic sprinter. Some have physiques so amazing, they could slide right onto any NFL sideline. They are, to borrow from the popular cliche, bigger, faster and stronger than ever before.
Action happens quickly. Bang-bang plays happen at the hoop multiple times a game some of those blocking/charging calls are so close, even TV replays can’t really tell the difference sometimes.
So it makes total sense that a 71 year-old guy will be right there to make these game-changing calls
Yep, Dick Bavetta, born on December 10, 1939, is still planning on returning as an NBA official next season.
Let’s put that into perspective, shall we?
- Dick Bavetta is OLDER THAN THE NBA! In fact, he was almost 10 years-old when the BAA and NBL decided to merge and form the NBA.
- Dick Bavetta was born only two months after the beginning of World War 2 and was almost six years-old when the US dropped atomic bombs on Japan.
- Dick Bavetta was almost 15 years old when Kobe Bryant’s father, Joe, was born.
- Dick Bavetta was 18 years old before the Boston Celtics had won any of their championships.
- Dick Bavetta made his debut in 1975, about a week before his 36th birthday.
I’ve got nothing against Dick Bavetta. I’m sure he’s a nice enough guy and he’s served the NBA well. But he’ll turn 72 during the season. It’s time to let it go. The game is too fast. The players are too big. And even though he’s in good enough shape to run around and maybe live to 100, biology is still biology. Your reaction time still slows down with age. And I don’t want to know how much of Bavetta’s officiating is just anticipation rather than what he actually sees.
By the way, it should be mentioned that the crux of that linked article is that Steve Javie is retiring because of a knee injury.
