Who's Suyash Mehta? Meet NBA's first Indian-Origin new referee

Born to Indian parents who migrated in 1980s, Suyash Mehta has officiated as referee at collegiate level basketball tournaments and during five seasons in the NBA G League. In 2019-20 NBA season, he refereed 13 regular-season NBA games as 'non-staff official'

The US National Basketball Association (NBA) League has elevated Indian-origin referee Suyash Mehta, along with two others, to full time after his successful stint in the previous season.

The other referees are -- Simone Jelks and Andy Nagy, have been promoted to full-time NBA staff officials, said Monty McCutchen, NBA Senior Vice President, Head of Referee Development and Training.

"We are pleased to welcome Simone, Suyash and Andy to our full-time staff," said McCutchen. "They have demonstrated through the growth and the quality of their performance, they warrant working NBA games on a regular basis."

New Full-Time NBA Staff Officials

Simone Jelks (Cleveland, Ohio) has officiated three seasons in the NBA G League. She also worked 16 regular-season NBA games as a non-staff official during the 2019-20 season. She has three years of collegiate officiating experience, with stints in the Mid-American Conference and Horizon League. Jelks played college basketball at the University of Southern California, where she was named to the 2007-08 Pac-12 All-Defensive Team.

Suyash Mehta (Baltimore, Maryland) officiated five seasons in the NBA G League. During the 2019-20 NBA season. He has officiated in numerous collegiate conferences, including the Atlantic 10, Big South, Colonial Athletic Association and Conference USA. He also has NCAA Division III and junior college officiating experience.

Suyash Mehta, who hails from Baltimore, Maryland, has been included on the roster for the 2020-21 season which started on Tuesday. Prior to this, he officiated five seasons in the NBA G League. During the 2019 20 NBA season, he refereed 13 regular-season NBA games as a "non-staff official".

Andy Nagy (Toledo, Ohio) has six seasons of NBA G League experience. He worked 13 NBA regular-season games as a non-staff official during the 2019-20 season. His officiating experience also includes nine years of collegiate experience, refereeing Division I men's and women's games in the Atlantic 10, Atlantic Sun, Horizon League and Mid-American Conference. Nagy unofficially began his officiating career at 14, when his father allowed him to referee a Youth CYO Christmas Tournament game.