John Nucatola (November 17, 1907 – May 9, 2000) was an American professional basketball player, coach and referee.
John Nucatola officiated some of the greatest games in the ECAC, Atlantic Coast, Southern and Big Eight Conferences, along with the NCAA and NIT tournaments.
Nucatola was one of the original referees in the NBA when the league was organized as the BAA in 1946.
He was called basketball's "greatest official" by Hall of Famer Clair Bee.
Nucatola believed the referee's most important duty was to make the right call rather than merely assert authority.