Courtesy of Bethune-Cookman Athletic Communications


DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Guess who's back in the NBA Finals, other than the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat? Eric Lewis, Bethune-Cookman University alum and husband of head women's basketball coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis, has been named one of the 12 referees who will officiate the 2020 NBA Finals.

This will be Lewis' second consecutive year of working the Finals. Last year, he called Game Four of the Toronto Raptors-Golden State Warriors series, whistling Warriors forward Draymond Green for a technical foul.

During the regular season, Lewis was assigned the NBA All-Star Game in Chicago after it underwent a format change. It was his call of a Kyle Lowry foul that sent Anthony Davis to the free throw line for the game-winning point in Team LeBron's 157-155 victory over Team Giannis.

Lewis has been in the NBA's "bubble" since July 12, officiating the conclusion of the regular season and playoffs, most notably the Western Conference Semifinals Game 7 between the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets as well as games in the Boston Celtics-Heat and Lakers-Nuggets matchups in both Conference Finals.
 
"We are so proud of Eric. If you know Eric, you would know that he is very passionate about officiating. He has a strong work ethic and demands more out of himself than you could ever imagine," Blair-Lewis said. The NBA is a top notch organization, one that  he is honored to work for that demands the best from the coaches, players and administration, Eric demands excellence as well."
 
He advanced to the NBA after spending three seasons working in the NBA Developmental League, where he called the 2004 D-League Finals and the 2003 and 2004 Playoffs. He also spent two years working in the United States Basketball League, officiating the Finals in 2002 and 2004.