Montgomery County resident and Northwest High School alumnus Gediminas Petraitis has built an impressive career in the NBA, where he is now in his eighth season as a staff official. Over that span, Petraitis has officiated more than 450 regular-season games and 11 playoff matchups, cementing his place among the league’s top referees, according to the National Basketball Referees Association (NBRA).
Per the NBRA, Petraitis made his NBA playoff debut in 2019 and also had the honor of refereeing the Rising Stars Challenge at NBA All-Star Weekend in Charlotte that same year. Before joining the NBA full-time, he spent three years in the G League, highlighted by working the 2015 NBA G League Finals. His résumé also includes international experience as a FIBA referee.
Long before stepping onto NBA hardwood, Petraitis sharpened his skills at the collegiate level, officiating primarily in the Big South Conference as well as in Division II, Division III, and junior college leagues. His career began at the high school level in Maryland, where he was part of IAABO Board 12, the local officials’ association that has produced many referees who went on to higher levels.
Born in Lithuania, Petraitis later moved to Montgomery County and graduated from Northwest HS in Germantown and the University of Maryland with dual degrees in Accounting and Finance. He became a U.S. citizen in 2015. His passion for officiating runs in the family– his father, Vidmantas, also worked as a college basketball referee.
