ONE of Western Australia's best and most-respected SBL and NBL referees officiated his last game in this year's Men's Grand Final and David Bull couldn't be more proud of everything he accomplished over the past 23 years.

Bull has become one of the all-time best, most respected and well-liked referees in WA basketball over the past 23 years starting at SBL level with three games in 1994 and going on to a tremendous career that included hundreds of games in the NBL.

He was named SBL Referee of the Year six times along the way – in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012 and 2014.

But the call of spending more time with his family after having dedicated much of his life to refereeing basketball was continuing to grow and that's why he made the decision to make this year's Men's SBL Grand Final between the Cockburn Cougars and Joondalup Wolves his last game.

As he has done his whole career, Bull did well in charge of the game and it's his ability to get the calls right while always doing so in a respectful manner in his dealings with players and coaches alike that have made him one of the best and most successful referees WA has produced.

Bull still remembers his first games in the SBL as a referee and he set his goal to retire in a Grand Final and has enjoyed everything in between.

"I remember all my firsts in women's and men's basketball. In my first season I did three SBL games so they are quite easy to remember and it was in 1994. I still get some of those pre-game nerves and I think that's part of being a referee and having that performance level that you take pride in," Bull said.

"It's actually a privilege for me to finish in this way. To go out on a Grand Final was an aspiration of mine to do it that way. It was a well contested game and Grand Finals aren’t always like that, but we had teams one and two on the ladder so it was a great way to finish my career. I enjoyed every second of it."

Bull isn’t sure exactly how many combined SBL and NBL games he has officiated, but it will be nearing the 1000-mark.

He has enjoyed the ride along with fellow veterans Bret Campbell and Peter Houghton, and emerging referees like Steve Diconza who he refereed the Grand Final with.

"The interesting part is that the SBL don’t keep stats on the number of games referees do. During the finals, Peter Houghton, myself and Bret Campbell did a game and we worked out we had 80-odd years of refereeing experience between us," he said.

"If I had to estimate, I'm guessing it's somewhere between the 500 and 600 mark that I did in the SBL and you would add another couple of hundred on for the NBL."

Becoming a basketball referee was never something Bull ever really considered until he fell into it by chance and he quickly realised it was something he enjoyed, and that he was somewhat a natural at.

To go from that to being able to officiate a whole host of SBL Grand Finals and big-time NBL matches all across Australia is something Bull has pinched himself about getting the chance to do right throughout the past 23 years. Nothing beats refereeing at home though.

"I loved the game of basketball and it's fair to say I'm a much better referee than I am a player, and I'm a much better player than I am a coach even though I'm having a go at coaching now," Bull said.

"What enticed me first was actually a bunch of footy mates playing basketball and that got me into it in the off-season. I worked out that I did have a talent for refereeing so I pursued it through different ranks that way.

"It's been a privilege to referee in the NBL and I've travelled around the country doing that, but there is no better place to referee than in Perth and particularly with the new facility at the Perth Arena.

"Being able to run around in front of 13,000 people and having the best seat in the house is an absolute honour. I've officiated numerous Grand Finals here as well and they have always been a highlight."

To achieve everything that he did during his career is something Bull is tremendously humbled by but it's as much the friends and people he's met and built up a rapport with along the way that he is most satisfied with.

"I said a while ago when I was starting out on this journey that if I got to be a state league referee I would be a happy man. Obviously I've gone on to do a few other things with the NBL and what have you, so it has actually been a privilege," he said.

"What I've learnt along the way is that it's not something that I'm just in control of, a whole lot of other factors come into being able to do what I have done. It has been a privilege but I have worked hard as well so I'm proud of what I have achieved.

"I consider many people in this league friends definitely and that's possible to do while they are players and coaches, and I'm a referee. You have to respect what happens on the court and I respect the effort the coaches and players actually put in.

"But the best part is when you walk across those white lines and can sit down at different places and have a beer, or these days it's more likely a soft drink or water. I consider many people friends over the career that I've had."

Bull won't be lost to the game of basketball with him currently involved in coaching junior teams his children are playing in. He will continue to do that and he looks forward to coming to SBL and NBL games in the future as a spectator.

"I am coaching at a junior level and I love that aspect of basketball especially while my kids are young. Obviously with 23 years of officiating experience I'd like to be able to put back as well," he said.

"My plan is take a 12-month break and I think the ego needs that just to step away, but certainly I'll be back and I love coming down to watch basketball. There are numerous places I enjoy going to have a beer and it will be nice to sit in the stands and be able to do that."

Bull is thankful that his wife and young children have allowed him to fulfil his dreams as one of the best referees in Australia throughout his career but now he is looking forward to having more time to spend with them.

"I'm so appreciative of the support my family has offered. The time we put into the NBL and SBL to referee is enormous particularly to do so here in Western Australia so we spend a lot of time on the road during an NBL season," Bull said.

"It was great to have my family in the courtside box for the Grand Final in my final game and I'm very appreciative for what they've done supporting me. They are all lovers of the sport as well so I'm sure we will continue that on."