When I was refereeing womens college basketball, I really wasnt thinking, Hey, I want to be an NBA ref. It was just like, Hey, I want to be the best ref I can be in womens basketball. Below is the 2019-20 NBA roster of officials with each official's uniform number, name, years in the league through last season and hometown. These women, who collectively had precious few female sports icons as children, now recognize their own role in inspiring a future generation. FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2020, file photo, referee Simone Jelks gestures during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the Miami Heat and the Portland Trail Blazers in Miami. "And I say that very positively. And not everyone was comfortable. I grew up watching her.". These were different times. 2023 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Simone Jelks knows that she has to be twice as good as her male counterparts to prove herself on the court. After she graduated, she became a referee. [2] As of the 202021 NBA season Jelks has officiated 49 regular-season games, including 16 regular-season games as a non-staff official during the 201920 NBA season. [3], Jelks was born on March 9, 1986, in Cleveland, Ohio. Jelks describes people telling her that their daughters tune into NBA games she works and won't even focus on the players; their eyes only on her. What could have been for Melvin Booker? She was named to the schools Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015. "She taught me how to carry myself, how to be comfortable being the only woman in the room all the time. [3], Jelks refereed three years of college basketball, officiating games for the Mid-American Conference and the Horizon League. When it comes to mentors within the officiating world, though, it all comes back to the paths forged before them. The female referees are expected to earn something around 16 thousand US Dollars which is much lower.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'sportscriber_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sportscriber_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Your email address will not be published. If working full-time, entry level referees or rookies are paid around $250,000, or $600 per game. None of it bothered me. Entry-level referees are on the lower end of that scale and receive larger paydays the longer they are in the league. However, one can also work their way up through the different basketball leagues to become an NBA referee. Consider a theme like locker rooms. Referee. Just as meaningful, though, is the broader support structure that's been created. we will inform you about the per match fees as well as the annual salaries of the Highest Paid NBA Referees 2022 (+All Salary). While that was the most overtly negative experience Holtkamp-Sterling recalls from her career, it wasn't the only one. Like, Lord, just give me a sign. Literally, within 24 hours, I got a call from my team saying, Hey, just want to let you know, were hiring you to be a full-time NBA referee., I was excited, but its so much more than that. "I said to the guys: 'You can curse! They make up 8% of the 75-member . Both entered the league fully in 1997, and Palmer, now 56, got the honor of making history when she donned the whistle for a late October game that year. She will be one of five women on the NBA's current lineup of officials . The NBA is yet to release the complete roster for the 2022-23 season, but last season there were 75 full-time NBA officials along with nine non-staff officials. Scott's average point total comes in at 230.1 while the home team has won an even 50% of the time when Scott is in . Loading Per Game Stats. Simone Jelks, Jenna Schroeder, Danielle Scott and Holtkamp-Sterling (married to fellow NBA ref Jonathan Sterling). The call couldn't have come at a better time for Jelks. "Her advice is always authentic.". "Being a Black woman herself, being a trailblazer as the first African-American [woman referee] in the NBA, she understands 100% of the challenges that I face," Jelks, 35, said. They were audible conversations for Palmer and Kantner, and sometimes more. Women referees are the least earners in NBA as they just bag 450 to 500 USD per match. So I was on an emotional roller-coaster ride thinking, Man, like, what is going on? I also try to limit my intake of processed foods and sugary drinks., Simone Jelks is the NBAs first female referee, and shes loving every minute of it. "Here we are in a very male-dominated space, and the league was very proactive to make sure I had what I needed.". In an interview with ESPN, she spoke about her goals for the league and her thoughts on the state of the Game Today, I want to see the NBA continue to grow and be successful, she said. Simone Jelks has officiated 34 regular-season games in two seasons as an NBA staff official. And when youre a former athlete, youre really competitive with yourself. NEW YORK (AP) Simone Jelks was one of three referees promoted to full-time status by the NBA on Wednesday, making her the fifth woman on the current lineup of officials. Draymond Green is given a Flagrant 2 foul for stomping on the chest of Domantas Sabonis, who earns a technical foul for grabbing Green's leg. NBA Betting Sites NBA Odds NBA Picks NBA Championship Odds NBA Player Props NBA Futures All NBA Betting Pages All NBA Betting. [1] She was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team for the 200708 season. An NBA referee senior-level makes an average of $3,500 a game or an annual salary of around $500,000. She started her officiating career in 2006 and has worked hard to be where she is today. Simone Jelks has officiated 34 regular-season games in two seasons as an NBA staff official. Just do your best and dont give up, she says. I was totally fan-girling. She is a founding member of Women In Sports officiating, an organization that works to promote female officials at all levels of play. #16 Guthrie, #74 Blair, #23 Maddox "It's almost normal now. It was never a goal of mine, she says. Jelks, a 2004 Brush graduate, had just returned to Northeast Oh "Those girls get to see me on this platform, working with men in a male-dominated field.". Several of the full-timers are close friends off the court. "I always had that mentor, a role model on how to be successful in a male-dominated field," Schroeder said. But she viewed the NBA as a challenge to conquer, plus she took comfort in the fact that at the time, NBA mechanics were actually pretty similar to those she was used to at the women's college level. And just from what it means for my neighborhood and the people that Ive been around. How did he fall out of the NBA? The same advice that Violet gave me, Be yourself, because thats the only person you can be. I thought that was awesome. And that prepared me significantly for officiating in the NBA. What advice does she have for aspiring referees? Was the buffer Palmer and Kantner created an impenetrable one? One needs to pass a background check and complete an interview to qualify to become a high school referee along with a basketball rule test at times. I also try to get enough sleep.. Jelks worked 16 regular-season NBA games as a non-staff official . "While there were times it could wear on my spirit, it was also a real test of what I want to do and why it's important that I'm choosing to pursue this," Holtkamp-Sterling said of those initial struggles. Salaries Salaries; Odds Odds; Awards Awards; Jelks now 7th woman to be full-time NBA ref. When I got hired in the G League. The NBA referee pay range varies according to the different statuses of officials. Clnica del Dolor y Cuidados Paliativos. So whats her advice for aspiring referees? Per Game. 2022-2023 Simone Jelks's betting stats and past seasons including games officiated, home team ats, avg. Kind of like coaching. University of Missouri-St. Louis '13. On top of an NBA referee's salary, regardless of their distinction, they also earn large compensation packages. Volunteering as a referee for the local area's parks and recreation department is a good way to start. Heres a comparison -. "I remember learning about Dee and Violet being NBA referees," Holtkamp-Sterling said of her younger self. All Rights Reserved. Because I've seen it done before.". Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Interest-Based Ads | EU Privacy Rights | Cookie Policy | Manage Preferences. Violet Palmer and Dee Kantner broke the NBAs gender barrier among referees in 1997. "[The NBA] worked closely with me to make sure that the locker room was where I needed it to be as a nursing mother," Holtkamp-Sterling said. In addition to her work as an official, Jelks is also an advocate for women in sports. An NBA referee senior-level makes an average of $3,500 a game or an annual salary of around $500,000. The women that are coming on the scene now are helping us -- we're not helping them.". Suyash Mehta (Baltimore, Maryland) officiated five seasons in the NBA G League. The top referees are eligible to work the NBA playoffs and the NBA Finals. Today, though, this is frankly the bare minimum; no one in the league office is patting themselves on the back for simply keeping up with the times. A combination of basketball expertise and interpersonal skills is what is needed for NBA referees to succeed in their roles. She began her career officiating youth games in her hometown of Oakland, California. Read More FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2020, file photo, referee Simone Jelks gestures during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the Miami Heat and the Portland Trail Blazers in Miami . And that has helped me tremendously. Simone Jelks, Jenna Schroeder, Danielle Scott and Holtkamp-Sterling (married to fellow NBA ref Jonathan Sterling). Jelks has been officiating basketball games for over two decades. #NBA #NBAReferees twitter.com/i/web/status/1, Congratulations to the PSRA on this historic first Collective Bargaining Agreement for its NWSL, USL and MLS NEXT P twitter.com/i/web/status/1, University of Southern California 08 M.P.H. Those whispers Holtkamp-Sterling would hear as she entered the league years later? . ET. Before they can reach that level, they are required to have three to five years of experience. Once at that level, their pay increases to $3,500 per game, with an annual salary of around a whopping half a million dollars. Her impressive performance led to her being hired as a full-time official for the 202021 season. Give yourself permission to work, to make mistakes, to grow. She also won the 2002 WKYC Channel 3 Leadership Award. He worked 13 NBA regular-season games as a non-staff official during the 2019-20 season. And she said, You should really give him a call because hes interested in female officials who want to officiate professional mens basketball. , They had three tryouts. In this article, we will inform you about the per match fees as well as the annual salaries of the Highest Paid NBA Referees 2022 (+All Salary). Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Dont try to fulfill some type of stereotype. Palmer, the NBAs first African American female referee, officiated 919 games and became the first woman to referee an NBA playoff game in 2006 before retiring in 2016. Referees in the National Basketball Association (NBA) oversee 120 pre-season games, 1,260 regular season games, and four rounds of playoff matches.These officials "oversee competition in real-time between 10 exceptional athletes, making calls with 95% accuracy.". The next level for basketball referees is to officiate at the high school level by contacting the state's public school athletic association. Their packages cover travel stipends, insurance, and retirement plans. 2. Today, Palmer counts men she worked with among her best friends. Simone Jelks is making history as the first female referee in the NBA. In an interview with the website Uproxx, Simone Jelks, the NBAs first female referee, discusses what it was like to first start refereeing and what advice she has for aspiring referees. I love the fact that Im an NBA referee. Schroeder said she'd love to see her daughter take up officiating when she grows up -- although she joked her wife, Anderson, may represent the more lucrative career path as a physician. Simone Jelks is the first female referee in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Being an NBA referee is a harder job than many people think, no matter how many fans believe they could do a better job or that their "grandma could have made a better call." Her exceptional earnings are a reflection of her tireless efforts and relentless devotion. . And it helps you in a lot of different situations, whether thats with management, whether thats with the coaches, with the players, just be yourself. While Palmer and Kantner are no longer working for the NBA, their legacies live on. The USC alum,. What happened to his career? In 2017, the NBRA expanded to include officials for the G League and WNBA. In 2014, she was hired by the NBA as a full-time official. She was a 2004 McDonald's All-American nominee and a two-time (2003, 2004) Western Reserve Conference North Division MVP and first-team all-conference selection. Referee Simone Jelks calls a foul during the first half between the Atlanta Hawks and the Miami Heat at State Farm Arena on October 14, 2021 in. Ashley's journey to becoming a senior NBA referee has been remarkable. However, depending on service time this number increases incrementally. During basketball games, the ambience is very fast paced as players continuously move up and down the court, coaches keep yelling along with the fans roaring in full support. 6. I think a lot of people are looking at me wondering if I can do it, Jelks told ESPN in an interview. If you love the game, youll find a way to make it happen., ContentsThe NBAs veteran minimum salary is a joke.Why the veteran minimum salary is a joke.How the veteran minimum salary affects NBA players The negative impact of the veteran minimum salary on the NBA.How the veteran minimum salary affects the NBAs competitiveness.The veteran minimum salary and the NBAs luxury tax.How the veteran minimum salary affects the, Read More The NBAs Vet Minimum is a JokeContinue, Contents Dillon Brooks NBA draft story Why Dillon Brooks was drafted Where Dillon Brooks was drafted Who Dillon Brooks was drafted by What Dillon Brooks draft stock was How Dillon Brooks game will transition to the NBA What kind of player Dillon Brooks is What Dillon Brooks strengths are What Dillon Brooks weaknesses areHow Dillon, Read More Dillon Brooks Drafted Into the NBAContinue, Contents Xavier Brown is a standout basketball player because of his unique skillset and ability to make an impact on the court. You can talk about the girl in the fifth row with the big ta-tas! Road trips can be 24 to 25 days per month sometimes. "They say I'm the sixth female referee in the NBA," said Schroeder, the sixth woman officially hired as a full-time NBA referee. The most recent estimations put NBA referees annual salaries between $180,000 and $550,000. Required fields are marked *. An average NBA referee ($550,000) nearly makes three times more than the salary of average NFL officials ($188,322). Simone Jelks is the first female referee in the National Basketball Association (NBA). She worked her way up through the ranks of amateur basketball, officiating games in college and then in the NBAs Development League In 2019, she made history when she became the first woman to officiate an NBA game, Jelks says that one of the biggest challenges she faced when starting out was simply getting over the nerves of officiating games. (Prior to entering the league, Palmer worked as a referee in NCAA Division I women's basketball.) In basketball, an official is also usually called a referee. I grew up watching basketball and to be able to be a part of it now is just an unbelievable feeling., Jelks, who has been officiating for 12 years, says that she didnt set out to become the first female referee in the NBA. NBA Referees Category Based Salary Chart: Category . [1] While attending Charles F. Brush High School Jelks became the school's career leader in points, steals, rebounds and free throws. How does having played at USC and internationally help you in this job? To make unbiased and fair perspective calls in favour of both teams to ensure fair outcome, an NBA referee needs to have an ethical mindset. In March 2015, the NBA began issuing Last Two Minutes reports that detail the performance of referees at the ends of games which the . . The figures referees receive today are nearly 10 times higher than it was in 1983, when officials made between $18,000 and $80,000 per season. They have a combined 11 years of G League experience and each worked 13 NBA games in non-staff roles last season. Only after that they become eligible to officiate postseason games where they can earn as high as $10,000/game in the first two rounds which can further increase to over $30,000/game for the referees officiating in the finals and semifinals. This group -- considered to be the cream of the crop around the league -- include names like Scott Foster, James Capers and Sean Corbin. An Ohio native, Jelks played college basketball at the University of Southern California, where she was named to the 2007-08 Pac-12 All-Defensive Team. After three to five years of experience, entry-level referees are eligible for a higher salary at the senior level. Total. "Middle child" is perhaps more fitting; as the only one of the five, current full-time women in the league with a direct connection to the Palmer/Kantner days. This page is not available in other languages. She also worked the 2022 Rising Stars and All-Star Saturday Night at NBA All-Star in Cleveland. Referees gearing up for return to NBA games, too, Like teams, NBA refs have new health, safety protocols, NBA denies Dallas Mavericks' protest, fines Mavs owner Mark Cuban $500K, Assistant coaches program helps former players become future coaches, Warriors' Green ejected from Game 2 for flagrant foul, Jackson Jr. named Kia Defensive Player of the Year, Interactive Stats Visuals for Kia DPOY Finalists, Ties broken for order of selection in '23 NBA Draft. Jelks became the seventh woman to be a full-time NBA referee. Jelks joins the group of female NBA referees that also includes Lauren Holtkamp-Sterling, Ashley Moyer-Gleich, Natalie Sago and Jenna Schroeder. That better. 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The next level for basketball referees is to officiate at the senior level the National basketball Association ( )! Palmer and Kantner created an impenetrable one permission to work, to grow two seasons an! The girl in the National basketball Association ( NBA ) all comes back to paths... Been remarkable fifth row with the big ta-tas of officials was born on March 9,,... Can do it, Jelks refereed three years of experience, entry-level referees are on NBA... With yourself salary, regardless of their distinction, they also have to stand for periods. Anytime in the fifth row with the big ta-tas of experience when youre former... Conference and the Horizon League looking at me wondering if I can simone jelks nba referee salary Lord just. As children, now recognize their own role in inspiring a future generation NFL officials ( 550,000.

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