Mike Mathis

Mike Mathis
Nationality	United States
Occupation	NBA referee (1976–2001)

Mike Mathis is a former professional basketball referee in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1976 to 2001. Over his career in the NBA, Mathis officiated nearly 2,340 games, including 12 NBA Finals and three NBA All-Star Games. Mathis wore uniform number 13 during his career. Mathis is also the owner and Chief Executive Officer of ProHoop Courts, Inc., which specializes in the installation of basketball goal systems and playing surfaces.

Mathis is a graduate of St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a veteran of the Vietnam War. From 1967 to 1972, Mathis began officiating as a high school basketball referee. In 1972, he worked college basketball games in the Big Ten, Mid-American, and Ohio Valley Conferences until being hired by the NBA in 1976.

Mathis' first game in the NBA was memorable for involving a fight between the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks at Western Michigan University's University Arena. Throughout the game, Mathis and referee Joe Gushue called 15 technical fouls and ejected five players, including Bulls' guard Jerry Sloan, Chicago coach Dick Motta, the Bucks' Swen Nater, and Bulls' Artis Gilmore.