| Jack Nies | |||||||||
| Birth Date: | 1937 11, mf=yes | ||||||||
| Birth Place: | Jersey City, New Jersey, United States | ||||||||
| Education: | University of Saint Mary (Kansas) | ||||||||
| Spouse: | Kimberly D. Nies (m. 1999) | ||||||||
| Parents: | Mary Balas Nies and John J. Nies | ||||||||
| Children: | Eric Nies John Nies Kim A. Nies Tara Nies Kolesar | ||||||||
| Nationality: | American | ||||||||
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Jack Nies (pronounced niece) (born November 11, 1937) is a retired National Basketball Association (NBA) referee. Nies officiated 2,046 regular-season games throughout his 31-year career, and wore uniform number 35. In addition, Nies oversaw 150 playoff games, 10 NBA Finals games, two NBA All-Star Games (1996 and 2005), and the 1987 Legends Classic.[1] Internationally, he was part of the referee crew for the 1994 Mexico Challenge and the 1997 McDonald's Championship; 2007 Istanbul, Turkey; Malaga and Madrid Spain—NBA Preseason Games
Nies retired from the NBA following the 2008 - 09 season.[1]
Nies graduated from St. Peter's Preparatory School.[2] He led the school to a state championship in 1955, and was awarded an All-State selection. Nies then played basketball for University of Saint Mary in Kansas before graduating in 1961 with a degree in Psychology and Philosophy.
Nies then moved back to New Jersey, and lived in Ocean Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey.[2] He started refereeing high school basketball games while working as a special education teacher in the local school district. He then officiated Eastern League games from 1971 until 1978, when he was hired by the NBA. Then-New York Knicks coach Red Holzman helped by giving the league a letter of recommendation, having been impressed by his refereeing in a game he had seen in 1970.[2]
On April 15, 2008, Nies refereed his 2,000th NBA game as his home state New Jersey Nets overcame a 20-point deficit against the Charlotte Bobcats 112 - 108.[3] On April 13, 2009, he officiated his last NBA game as the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder.[4]
1997 NBA Finals 1997 Finals, Game 31998 NBA Finals 1998 Finals, Game 4