Question: How many years was the 2016 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame referee inductee a referee in the NBA ?

text: List of members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Members -- Referees
The Referee category has existed since the beginning of the Hall of Fame and the first referee was inducted in 1959 . Since then , 16 referees have been inducted , [ 3 ] with Darell Garretson being the most recent entrant in 2016 . [ 5 ] Ernest C. Quigley , born in Canada , is the only inductee in this category born outside of the United States .
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, honors players who have shown exceptional skill at basketball, all-time great coaches, referees, and other major contributors to the sport. It is named after Dr. James Naismith, who conceived the sport in 1891; he was inducted into the Hall as a contributor in 1959. To be considered for induction, nominees must meet certain prerequisites. Players must have been retired for at least three years before becoming eligible. Referees must have either been retired for at least three years, or, if they are still active, have officiated for at least 25 years at high-school-level programs or higher. Coaches must have either been retired for at least three years, or, if they are still active, have coached for at least 25 years at high-school-level programs or higher and from 2020 on must have coached for at least 25 years and reached the age of sixty years. Those being considered for induction as contributors may be inducted at any time; the Hall of Fame and its committees evaluate whether contributions are significant enough for the nominee to be inducted as a contributor. Teams are also inducted at the committees' discretion.
Year Inductee Achievements
1959 Matthew P. Pat Kennedy Officiated high school , college , and professional games ( 1924-56 ) ; officiated in NCAA and NIT tournaments ; BAA/NBA supervisor of referees ( 1946-50 ) ; officiated for the Harlem Globetrotters ( 1950-56 )
1960 George T. Hepbron Conducted first national rules seminar ; editor of AAU Basketball Guide ( 1901-14 ) ; secretary of the Olympic Basketball Committee ( 1903 )
1961 George H. Hoyt Founded Eastern Massachusetts Board of Approved Basketball Officials ; founded New England Interscholastic Basketball Tournament ; chief of officials for the Eastern Massachusetts High School Tournament ; refereed high school and college games
1961 Ernest C. Quigley Supervisor of NCAA tournament officials ( 1940-42 ) ; member of NCAA Football Rules Committee ( 1946-54 ) ; officiated more than 1,500 games in 40-year career ; was Major League Baseball umpire for 25 years
1961 David Dave Tobey Officiated in the Eastern Intercollegiate Conference , the Eastern Conference , the Ivy League , and in the National Invitation Tournament ; Executive Committee of the New York City High School Coaches Association ; honorary member of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials ( IAABO )
1962 David H. Walsh New Jersey State championship at Hoboken High School ( 1924 ) ; Associate Director of Collegiate Basketball Officials Bureau ( 1941-56 ) ; co-author of first Manual of Basketball Officiating ; officiated in the Eastern Intercollegiate Basketball Conference and the Eastern Conference
1978 John P. Nucatola Officiated in 18 NCAA tournaments , in 18 National Invitation Tournaments ; original referee in the BAA and NBA ( 1946-54 ) ; officiated in the Olympics ( Helsinki , 1952 , Melbourne , 1956 )
1979 James E. Jim Enright Officiated in Olympic playoffs ( London , 1948 , Helsinki , 1952 ) , in NCAA Final Four ( 1954 ) , in NCAA regional tournaments ( 1952 , 1953 ) ; officiated two Major League Baseball All-Star Games ( 1950 , 1962 )
1980 J. Dallas Shirley Officiated in the Olympics ( Rome , 1960 ) ; chief official of Pan American Games ( 1959 ) ; Chairman of U.S. Olympic Basketball Officials Committee ( 1976 ) ; conducted clinics in the U.S. and 13 foreign countries
1983 Lloyd R. Leith Officiated NCAA championship game between Kentucky and Kansas State ( 1951 ) ; officiated in the NCAA tournament for 16 years ; became the tenth referee enshrined into the Hall ; supervisor of officials of the Pacific Intercollegiate Athletic Conference ( 1955-62 )
1986 Zigmund J . Red Mihalik Officiated 6 NCAA championship finals ; refereed 3 NAIA Finals and 3 NIT Finals ; officiated in the Olympics ( Tokyo , 1964 , Mexico City , 1968 ) ; best referee by Dell Publications
1995 Earl Strom Officiated in 7 NBA All-Star Games , in 29 NBA and ABA Finals ; officiated in 2,400 regular season and 295 playoff games ; NBA crew chief ( 1967-68 )
2007 Marvin Mendy Rudolph Officiated 2,112 NBA games , a record at the time of his retirement ; first referee to officiate more than 2,000 NBA games ; referee of 8 NBA All-Star Games and at least 1 game of the NBA Finals for 22 consecutive seasons ; NBA Head of Officials
2012 Hank Nichols Officiated six NCAA men 's Division I championship games , including 1975 ( the final game of John Wooden ) and 1979 ( the start of the rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson ) , and 10 Final Fours ; only official to work the NCAA and NIT championship games in the same year ; first NCAA Coordinator of Men 's Basketball Officials ( 1986 ) ; often called the John Wooden of officials
2015 Richard Dick Bavetta Officiated in the NBA for 39 years , never missing a game in his entire career ( 2,635 games ) , including 27 NBA Finals games , over 250 playoff games , and three All-Star Games ; first NBA official to call an Olympic game ( 1992 )
2016 Darell Garretson Officiated in the NBA for 27 years from 1967 to 1994 , and later served as NBA Supervisor of Officials for 17 years from 1981 to 1998 . Credited for creating and heading the first union for NBA referees , known as the National Association of Basketball Referees , a predecessor to the present day NBRA