Experience behind the appointments
Cearley worked eight NBA regular-season games in 2025/26. His five G League years include 234 games, playoff assignments in every season and the 2026 Finals. Haskill has officiated 32 NBA regular-season games over five seasons from 2021/22 to 2025/26. He has eight G League years and 336 games, including the last four Finals. His experience also covers the Basketball Africa League and NBA Summer League, with Las Vegas championship assignments in 2023, 2025 and 2026.
Development continues after promotion
Painter worked three NBA regular-season games in 2025/26, alongside 215 G League games over five years and playoff assignments in three seasons. She also spent seven years officiating NCAA Division I. All three will continue handling G League games as well as NBA assignments. Officials with fewer than four NBA years also work in the development league to gain crew-chief experience and leadership practice. Albert Sanders and Monty McCutchen credited the appointees' work and progress while emphasising continued development. The regular season is scheduled to begin on 20 October. Its accompanying basketball image is archive material, not a photograph of the three referees.