Smush Parker is looking to become the fourth former NBA player in league history to make his return to the court as a referee.
The former point guard went undrafted after playing one season at Fordham University but was signed by the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2002-2003 campaign, before spending a year playing with Aris Thessaloniki in the Greek Basket League.
Parker then split 16 games between the Detroit Pistons and Phoenix Suns during the 2004-2005 season and had his most notable days with the Los Angeles Lakers for two years from 2005 to 2007.
He averaged career highs in points (11.5), assists (3.7), rebounds (3.3), and steals (1.7) during his first season in Los Angeles, starting all 82 regular season games for the team and starting all seven of their playoff games as well.
Parker’s NBA playing career ended with 28 games shared between the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers during the 2007-2008 campaign before he continued for the next decade with stints in the then D-League and a handful of leagues overseas.
The 73-year-old Bernie Fryer played 120 games between the ABA and NBA from 1973 to 1975, served as a referee from 1978 to 2007, and has been the Vice President and Director of Officials for the NBA since 2008.
The 10th overall pick of the famous 1984 NBA Draft, Leon Wood played 274 games between six organizations from 1984 to 1991 and became an official in 1996.
Haywoode Workman played 359 games across eight seasons with five teams from 1989 to 2000 and officiated his first NBA game in 2008.
