“Most beloved person in the NBA” - Fans pour in support as veteran referee Bill Kennedy exits court injured

Injuries are common in the NBA games. However, the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the orlando magic saw an unusual incident. One of the most beloved referees within the league, Bill Kennedy, sustained a non-contact injury and had to be carted to the locker room. The entire incident was captured in a clip and it went viral in moments. Fans poured in their support across social media, referring to him as the most beloved person in the NBA and GOAT.

Veteran Bill Kennedy started his officiating career in 1995 and has continued to date. He has officiated over 1500 NBA games and has even refereed in the college and international ranks as well. Bill garnered even more popularity when he came out in a shocking statement in 2015.

Fans react to Bill Kennedy’s sudden injury during Philadelphia 76ers game against Orlando Magic

During the first quarter of the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Orlando Magic, a tragic incident took place. Veteran referee Bill Kennedy injured his leg. While the Philadelphia players were seen approaching the basket to score a dunk, the 59-year-old referee could be seen limping while trying to catch up with the players. Right after the dunk, the condition was analyzed and Bill was carted off to the locker room. The entire incident generated significant reactions from the fans.


Fans believed that the referee is one of the most beloved persons within the league. One of the fans with the username MrGif24 commented, “Nah not the homie. Probably the most beloved person in the NBA right now.” Another fan with the name Nicholas Watson wrote, “My favorite ref; hopefully he makes a full recovery.” Some of the fans even wished for the injury to not be of a serious nature. Sean Bernard wrote, “Looked like he pulled a hammy to me live. Hope it isn’t anything more serious than that.”

It is not just the players that develop a reputation within the NBA. Bill is the living example of it. One of the fans with the username Alex Burns commented, “Prayers up for the GOAT.” Some other fans even wished for some other referees to have gotten injured instead of Bill. Delay Twin Spammer wrote, “Literally should’ve been any other ref. Especially Zack Zarba and Scott Foster.”

What happened in the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Orlando Magic?

The Philadelphia 76ers edged the Orlando Magic team with a 12-point lead. Tyrese Maxey became the highest scorer of the game, racking up 29 points with 1 rebound and 1 assist. Joel Embiid and Paul George added to the team’s final standing with 22 and 18 points, respectively. On the part of the Magic team, Desmond Bane and Anthony Black racked up 20+ points. However, they fell short to the combined efforts from the 76ers. The final score of the game was 91-103, favoring the 76ers.

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