NBA gets its first Indian-Origin referee

Suyash Mehta is NBA's first-ever full-time Indian-origin referee.https://t.co/tBEgoe6tFi

— News18.com (@news18dotcom) December 24, 2020

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has its first full-time arbiter in Suyash Mehta. Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, Mehta has been named in the 2020-21 season roster. In the official announcement of the league, Suyash Mehta was named alongside Andy Nagy and Simone Jelks.

Mehta has been in the NBA G League for five seasons. In the previous season, Mehta played 13 games but was a non-staff official. Talking about Simone Jelks, she’s the fifth female official this season. She will join Lauren Holtkamp-Sterling, Ashley Moyer-Gleich, Natalie Sago and Jenna Schroeder as full-time female officials for the 2020-21 season.

We are delighted to welcome Simone (Jelks), Suyash and Andy (Nagy) to our full-time team,” said Monty McCutchen, NBA Senior Vice President, Head of Referee Development and Training.

“Through the growth and quality of their performance, they have demonstrated that NBA games work on a regular basis,” McCutchen said. Mehta’s parents moved from India to the US in 1980 and are now living in Baltimore, Maryland. He has been a member of several collegiate conferences, including Atlantic 10, Big South, Colonial Athletic Association and Conference USA. He also has NCAA Division III and junior college experience.