NBA Named Three New Full-Time Referees
The league announced Nate Cearley, Brent Haskill, and Chelisa Painter as additions to its officiating staff.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Basketball
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The NBA has officially promoted Nate Cearley, Brent Haskill, and Chelisa Painter to its full-time officiating staff. These referees will begin their new roles for the 2026-27 season.
Why it matters
These appointments integrate experienced G League officials into the NBA ranks, bolstering the officiating roster ahead of the upcoming season. The inclusion of Painter brings the total count of women on the league's full-time staff to nine.
The new staff members bring extensive experience from the G League, where they refereed a combined 785 games. Chelisa Painter's promotion marks a milestone for the league, bringing the total number of women on the full-time officiating staff to nine.
The players
Nate Cearley
He is an incoming full-time NBA referee who previously officiated 234 games in the NBA G League.
Brent Haskill
He is an incoming full-time NBA referee who has officiated 336 G League games and 32 prior NBA regular-season games.
Chelisa Painter
She is an incoming full-time NBA referee who has officiated 215 G League games and contributes to the league's total of nine female staff officials.
The details
The new staff officials will balance their NBA responsibilities with ongoing assignments in the G League to gain further experience. These officials were selected after previously serving as non-staff referees for league games during the 2025-26 season.
Timeline
From 2021-22 through 2025-26, Brent Haskill officiated 32 NBA regular-season games.
During the 2025-26 season, Nate Cearley and Chelisa Painter served as non-staff officials for NBA games.
The 2026-27 season marks the first year Cearley, Haskill, and Painter serve as full-time NBA staff.
The 2026-27 NBA regular season tips off on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
Season Trajectory
These promotions reinforce the league's pipeline strategy of utilizing the G League to groom referees for the professional level. This infusion of talent maintains officiating depth as the league prepares for the start of the 2026-27 season.
The promotion of these three referees adds depth to the league's officiating pool, which can impact the rotation and assignments for high-stakes games throughout the season. These officials will remain active in the G League while managing their new assignments.
The takeaway
The league continues to expand its officiating ranks by promoting talent that has proven itself in developmental leagues. These appointments highlight the ongoing efforts to maintain professional standards through a tiered development process.
What happens next
The 2026-27 NBA regular season is scheduled to officially begin on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
Further reading
For more information on the latest league updates, visit the Basketball section.
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