NBA Ref Slams Into Sideline Cameraman During Game

Referee Sha'Rae Mitchell took a hard fall after colliding with a courtside camera operator.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 2:54am

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During a fourth-quarter fast break in a game between the Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets, NBA referee Sha'Rae Mitchell was sprinting down the sideline when she slammed into a courtside camera operator. The cameraman was stationary and focused on filming a courtside fan, but Mitchell failed to look where she was going and crashed into him at full speed. Mitchell was visibly shaken up after the collision but stayed in the game to finish her shift.

Why it matters

Referees are expected to maintain spatial awareness and body control on the court, just as they demand from the players. This incident highlights the risks officials face when they fail to practice what they preach, and it raises questions about sideline safety protocols in the NBA.

The details

Mitchell was flying down the sideline, laser-focused on the fast-break action developing on the court. However, she forgot to look where she was going and slammed full speed into the courtside camera operator, who was planted in his assigned position and did not budge from the impact. Mitchell was visibly shaken up and holding her head after the collision, but she stayed in the game to finish her shift.

  • The incident occurred in the fourth quarter of the March 13, 2026 game between the Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets.

The players

Sha'Rae Mitchell

An NBA referee who was involved in the sideline collision.

Atlanta Hawks

The NBA team that was playing the Brooklyn Nets when the incident occurred.

Brooklyn Nets

The NBA team that was playing the Atlanta Hawks when the incident occurred.

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What they’re saying

“The camera guy was just earning his paycheck.”

— Alejandro Avila, Author (outkick.com)

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for referees to maintain heightened awareness and body control when moving quickly on the sidelines, just as they demand from the players. It also raises questions about sideline safety protocols in the NBA to protect both officials and media personnel.