- Birth DateMay 20, 1971
- Birth Name Eric Lewis
- Age 53
- Height 6' 0''
- Birth Place Daytona Beach, Florida, USA
- Birth Sign Taurus
- Nationality American
- Profession NBA Referee
- Partner Vanessa Blair-Lewis
- Relationship Status Married
- Eye Color Black
- Hair Color Black
- Children Eric Lewis, Eijah Lewis, Blair Lewis, Bryce Lewis
A Referee is an authorized person responsible for running a match or game from a neutral point of view. Eric Lewis is a professional basketball referee who relies on his expert knowledge of basketball rules and regulations to officiate games fairly. He has been an NBA referee on the league’s officiating staff for nearly two decades.
Eric Lewis is a popular name on the basketball court. He has had a successful college career as well. As one of the successful referees in the NBA League, more people are curious to know more about his personal life. So, let’s learn more about the referee’s net worth, career, NBA referee life, wife, and children.
Former NCAA Basketball Star
On May 20, 1971, Eric Lewis was born in Daytona Beach, Florida. He was raised by a single parent along with his six siblings. Lewis’s mother, brother, and sisters went to the same college.
At college, Lewis attended summer programs called the National Youth Sports Program. The youths from his community would have opportunities to play various sports in the program. Furthermore, he was a star basketball player at Mainland High School and Bethune-Cookman College, where he went due to a basketball scholarship.
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Eric Lewis Net Worth And Career
As an NBA referee, Eric Lewis has officiated more than 1000 regular-season games and 79 playoff games over 14 seasons. But initially, he didn’t think his college basketball career would lead him to enter the NBA and become a referee. Then, a referee who remembered him from college suggested he try refereeing.
The NBA official started refereeing and has worked his way up to the NBA League. Now, the ref has a very successful career and is counted among one of the top referees in America. So naturally, Eric Lewis’s net worth must be of a significant sum.
Lewis officiated eight years in college basketball, with stints in the Atlantic Sun, Ohio Valley, Sunshine State, Florida Sun, and Mid-Florida conferences in the beginning years of his refereeing career. He also refereed in Florida high schools for six years. Having officiated for such significant conferences must have added positively to his wealth.
“I just don’t think they know how hard we work, how fair we are, how passionate we are about what we do, to go out and give each team or individual a fair shot.” – Veteran NBA referee Eric Lewis#7Questions – WATCH: pic.twitter.com/OcScg5kyM3
— NBA Referees (@OfficialNBARefs) January 24, 2018
Previously, Lewis spent three seasons refereeing in the NBA G League. He had also worked in the 2004 Finals before joining the NBA. He also has two years of experience working in the United States Basketball League. An NBA referee earns between $150,000 to $550,000 on average. Hence, the ref must be earning a considerable amount. Furthermore, these earnings must be adding significantly to Eric Lewis’s net worth.
Karl Lane is another NBA Referee with grand earnings.
Eric’s Wife Is A Veteran Coach
After coming into the limelight as an NBA referee, Eric’s personal affairs have become a topic of curiosity to many people. His love life and his family are what people prefer to know more about. The NBA referee has been sharing a blissful marital life with Vanessa Blair-Lewis since the summer of 2013. The couple met through a coach. But did you know the Lewis couple are involved in basketball?
Eric Lewis’s wife is Vanessa, an NCAA basketball coach. She is currently leading the women’s basketball team at George Mason University. The four-time MEAC Coach of the Year is the former Bethune-Cookman women’s basketball team head coach. Eric’s spouse has received several awards in her career. Her professional career started in Sweden but she was able to play only for two years due to a knee injury.
Vanessa and Eric have been happily married, and their love has remained the same. However, this is not the first marriage for the NBA referee. Lewis had been married before, but his first wife’s details remain unknown. Nonetheless, the Blair-Lewis couple is now enjoying their togetherness.
He Is A Father Of Four Boys
The NBA official is a proud father of four children. Eric Lewis and Eijah Lewis are from his previous marriage. In addition, Eric and Vanessa are parents to two adorable sons, Blair Lewis and Bryce Lewis.
Eric Lewis’s sons have mild asthma, so their parents have to take special care of them. They were even home-schooled during the pandemic. The Dayton Beach native currently resides with his second wife and four sons in his hometown in Florida.
Eric was raised by a single mother and had limited opportunities while growing up. However, his talent and passion for basketball have now established him as one of the prominent NBA referees. He is continuously contributing on and off the court. So, let’s wish him more prosperity in the future.
Facts And Trivia
- Eric’s favorite movie is ‘Which Way Is Up?’ and TV show is ‘Martin.’
- He is talented in drawing.
- He loves to eat his favorite meal, Lasagna.