NBA referee Sha’Rae Mitchell suffers head injury in Hawks-Nets game
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NBA official Sha’Rae Mitchell fell hard to the ground during Thursday night’s game between the Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets after hitting a camera operator and appearing to suffer a head injury during the collision.
Mitchell, who was in his first season as an NBA personnel officer, was jogging on the court at full speed with just over eight minutes left in the game when he fell hard to the ground after encountering a camera operator who was filming the courtside crowd during the game.
Referee Sha’Rae Mitchell (98) signals during the fourth quarter of the NBA basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on March 12, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
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Play was stopped as Mitchell bent over and clutched the back of his head in obvious pain.
He walked off the field, sat down and continued to hold his head.
Referee Sha’Rae Mitchell holds her head after a collision during the fourth quarter of the Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks game at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on March 12, 2026. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
RUSSELL WESTBROOK CHANGED THE TUESDAY WITH REPORTERS IN A HEAVY POST-GAME CONFLICT AFTER THE KINGS HAD THEIR 50TH LOSS.
Mitchell reportedly returned to the game as Jalen Johnson recorded 21 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists, helping the Hawks extend the NBA’s longest winning streak to eight games with a 108–97 victory over the Nets.
The 40-year-old referee officially joined the league this season after previously officiating in 11 regular season games as a non-roster official in the 2022-23 NBA season and four games in the 2021-22 season.
Rapper and entertainer Boosie Badazz reacts after watching referee Sha’Rae Mitchell (98) fall to the ground following a collision during the fourth quarter of the NBA basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on March 12, 2026. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
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Mitchell was a standout women’s college basketball player at UC Santa Barbara before serving on the coaching staff at Stanford University, UCLA and Coastal Carolina University. He then moved on to officiating college basketball for a few years before making his debut at the professional level.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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