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Popular NBA referee Bill Kennedy is facing long injury absence

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Jan 10, 2026 6:39 PM ET

The NBA will be without one of its longest-tenured referees for a good portion of the season.

Bill Kennedy suffered a hamstring strain during Friday night’s game in Orlando, according to Chris B. Haynes of Amazon Prime. The league is hopeful that he will be able to return before the end of the season.

Longtime NBA referee Bill Kennedy will be sidelined indefinitely after suffering a hamstring strain at last night’s game in Orlando, but the hope is he can return before the regular season ends, league sources tell @NBAonPrime, @NBATV. pic.twitter.com/1gEP64vHMx
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 10, 2026

Kennedy has become hugely popular among many NBA fans, in part because of the distinctive way he announces the outcome of coach challenges. His injury looked quite severe Friday night, and he actually wound up leaving the court in a wheelchair.

From a practical standpoint, the NBA will not love that one of their most experienced and respected referees appears set to miss weeks, if not months. That is a void they will have to fill.

The 60-year-old Kennedy is in his 26th career season as an NBA referee. He has worked over 1,400 games over the years, including over 130 playoff games.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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