NBA's Most Beloved Referee Gets His Flowers: Bill Kennedy Headed To LGBTQ Sports Hall Of Fame

Last Updated:January 21, 2026, 16:00 IST

Bill Kennedy headlines the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame 2026 class, joining Rick Welts, Robin Roberts, and Sue Wicks, honoring trailblazers in sports, advocacy, and inclusion.

NBA referee Bill Kennedy (NBA Media)

NBA’s beloved Bill Kennedy is headed to the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame — and it feels long overdue.

The NBA’s most recognizable referee headlines the Hall of Fame’s 2026 class, which also includes longtime NBA executive Rick Welts, journalist and broadcaster Robin Roberts, and former WNBA player Sue Wicks.

For basketball fans, Kennedy is the standout name.

Referees aren’t supposed to be famous. If you know their names, something usually went wrong. Kennedy is the rare exception.

In a profession that rarely receives praise, Kennedy has somehow built a fan base. Over nearly three decades in the NBA, he’s become a favourite — not for controversial calls, but for his unmistakable flair.

Whether delivering the verdict of a replay review or announcing the outcome of a coach’s challenge, Kennedy’s sharp tone and dramatic pauses have turned routine moments into viral clips.

Kennedy has officiated NBA games since the 1995–96 season, worked multiple NBA Finals, and represented the sport at the 2010 FIBA World Championships and the 2012 Olympics.

In 2015, he became the league’s second openly gay referee, coming out publicly after being targeted with a homophobic slur by Rajon Rondo during a game in Mexico City.

His response — calm, dignified, and unapologetically honest — earned widespread respect across the league.

The honor comes during a frustrating stretch for the veteran official. Kennedy is currently sidelined with a strained hamstring suffered earlier this month while officiating a game between the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic.

He was helped off the court in a wheelchair, and while his return timeline remains unclear, there’s optimism he could be back before the end of the regular season.

The LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame resumed inductions in 2025 after a decade-long hiatus, making Kennedy part of a new generation of honorees helping push visibility forward.

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