Tony Brown, the longtime NBA referee, passed away yesterday after having a critical health battle. Read on to learn how did Tony Brown die, what happened to him, and what was the cause of his death.
According to a statement by NBA commissioner Adam Silver, Tony Brown was one of the most accompolished referees in the NBA and an inspiration to his colleagues.
Who was Tony Brown?
Tony Brown was a veteran NBA Official (Referee) who officiated 1,110 regular season games and 35 playoff games. His debut in an NBA Final came during the 2019-20 season that was completed inside the NBA bubble at Walt Disney World.
Brown was a Tallahassee, Florida, native. He had also worked for CBA and WNBA, officiating champion games, and worked a couple of All-Star games. Prior to becoming an NBA referee, Brown used to work for Delta Airlines in a number of roles.
In 2007, Brown retired from his post as a flight attendant to become a full-time NBA official. Just last week, Brown and his family were recognized by Clark Atlanta University, from which he received a bachelor’s degree in finance in 1989.
How did Tony Brown die?
Veteran NBA referee Tony Brown died on Thursday, October 20, 2022, at his home surrounded by his family and friends. He passed away after a brief stint with pancreatic cancer. Brown was only 55 years old.
The tragic news of Tony Brown’s death was announced by NBA and further confirmed by his wife Tina.
“We are and have been sustained by the consistent outpouring of love and support through this journey in developing strength, acceptance and peace,” Tina said.
“We ask that you join us in that spirit as we prepare to celebrate Tony’s life. Our biggest thank you to our village of family and friends, near and far, old and new. Your love is immeasurable.”
Tony Brown dead at 55: What was the cause of his death?
Tony Brown died at the age of 55 after suffering from pancreatic cancer for over a year and a half.
In April 2021, Tony Brown received bad news as he was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He then worked a bit last season in the NBA replay center. Recently, his condition had been worsening and he entered hospice care in the Atlanta area.
Unfortunately, he passed away this week. Stage 4 is the terminal stage of pancreas cancer, which is among the most fatal types of cancer due to the late appearance of signs and symptoms.
Tony Brown Obituary, Funeral Arrangements, and Tributes.
Tributes have emerged for Tony Brown who was involved with the NBA for a very long time. He was among the few names who have officiated in more than 1,000 league games.
Today, the Lakers observed a moment of silence to honor the late referee Tony Brown before tipoff.
The funeral arrangements alongside an official obituary for Tony Brown are awaited at the time of writing. We are waiting for his family to share the information soon. We’ll update this section once it is released.
Our deepest condolences go out to the people close to him. Tony Brown will forever be remembered in and out of the NBA. May God let his soul rest in peace.