Bill Kennedy

William Gene "Bill" or "Billy" Kennedy (born November 10, 1966) is an American professional basketball referee for the National Basketball Association (NBA). In 2015, he became the league's second openly gay official.

Early life As a pre-teen in Phoenix, Arizona, Kennedy knew that he wanted to become a referee. He began as an NBA referee during the lockout 1995–96 NBA season before securing a permanent role in 1999. He has officiated over five NBA Finals series, as well as the 2010 FIBA World Championships and the 2012 Summer Olympics.

The NBA introduced the coach's challenge rule during the 2019–20 season, which grants each team one opportunity per game to dispute a referees' initial call. This group of advisors observes over 60 games in person and over 40 games remotely, while also charting all correct calls for every official that they observe. Kennedy would leave the Kia Center in a wheelchair, with referees James Williams and Michael Smith officiating the remainder of the game.

Coming out In 1999, after a Detroit Pistons game, Kennedy shook a boy's hand while on his way to the officials' locker room. Rivers reportedly used a gay slur towards Kennedy during the 2009 NBA Playoffs. In 2010, former NBA referee Tim Donaghy outed Kennedy on a Boston radio show, while referring to Kennedy as a "homosexual"; however the story did not gain any traction. Rondo was given a one game suspension.

He is a known karaoke enthusiast.