There was one opening left, and Gushue won it over future Los Angeles Dodgers' manager Tommy Lasorda.
Gushue would become a mentor to Philadelphia born referee Jake O'Donnell, who would become a mentor to suburban Philadelphia born referee Joey Crawford (O'Donnell knowing Crawford's father Shag as they both were major league baseball umpires).
In the 1978 NBA finals between the Seattle Supersonics and Washington Bullets, six "Philadelphia" referees were slotted for the series (Gushue, O'Donnell, Jack Madden, Eddie Rush, Earl Strom, and John Vanak).
[7] Gushue was dismissed by the NBA after the 1982 season (along with Bob Rakel and Jesse Kersey) on the basis knee surgery made him physically unable to perform.
He retired from refereeing after the 1984 season and returned to his former profession as a union carpenter from UBC Local 1856, working until two years before his death.