Like every other sport in the world, the NBA has been accused of being rigged on numerous occasions throughout its history.
Friends of mine have claimed that the NBA tries to rig the results every year to favor “favorite” players and teams, and that’s why some players appear in the NBA Finals so frequently.
While that may be true, it still doesn’t mean that the game is rigged.
Although there are a few games where someone can claim that the NBA has been rigged, most objective reviews conclude that there is no evidence of a deliberate attempt to fix the game.
Let’s jump right into it without hesitation.
Are NBA Games Rigged?
The most common allegations of a rigged outcome in the NBA are “the refs are throwing the game!” or “the lottery is rigged!”
The NBA games are not rigged if you believe the reporters and analysts who have investigated the issue and if you can read closely enough to verify their findings for yourself.
If you’ve watched the National Basketball Association long enough, you’ll notice that the league’s designated stars receive preferential treatment from the referees, particularly during the playoffs.
During a close play, notice how quickly the referees will assign a foul to a nearby (and lesser-known) player when the foul should have been called on one of the league’s most well-known players.
On that point, the majority of observers will agree.
To please fans and television viewers, the NBA should keep its most popular stars on the court for as long as possible.
So, let’s admit that NBA referees (who are hired and paid by the NBA) consider whether or not to call a final foul on a player like LeBron James or Stephen Curry in the final moments of an NBA game. During the playoffs, whistles, and fouls against the top players almost vanish.
The referee issue is slightly offensive to the average viewer who wants to watch a properly officiated game regardless of the players or teams involved.
ESPN, the NBA, various Las Vegas betting experts, and the FBI dug deep into the Tim Donaghy scandal.
None of them could find any evidence that Donaghy was able to impact outcomes significantly.
He could, at best, give some bettors a heads-up on who would be calling the game a few hours before Vegas adjusted the line.
I bring up Donaghy because he was the closest the league has ever come to having a referee who could actually influence games.
Some claim that the 2002 Lakers-Kings series (specifically game 6) was rigged, but that’s the closest the NBA has ever come to having a game that appeared to be rigged.
Some argue that the 2006 NBA Finals between Miami and Dallas were “fixed,” but I’d argue that the outcome had a lot more to do with Avery Johnson’s stubbornness than anything else.
Are NBA Trades Rigged?
Most NBA fans would agree that some trades don’t appear legitimate and don’t make sense for both parties involved.
However, both of those teams are willing to give up something to obtain something they value more highly. That’s called capitalism, and most of us think it’s a fair system.
The NBA has seen a few perplexing transactions recently that question the league’s motivations.
While several NBA teams made last-minute trades last summer (something of value in exchange for something of value) in the hopes of making the playoffs, other teams abruptly reduced their payroll and cut some veteran “star” players. What about those former NBA All-Stars? Where do you think they’ve ended up?
Several of these NBA stars who were suddenly dumped by non-playoff teams recently signed to play the rest of the season for two of the league’s most likely finalists.
Is this just good business on the part of Brooklyn and the Lakers, or is there something more sinister going on?
How else do you explain the Brooklyn Nets’ acquisition of two more NBA All-Stars after already adding former Houston Rockets star James Harden to the team?
What causes this to happen? How can the Nets afford to give a home to two more NBA superstars who are already paid well?
The first step was to negotiate the release of those veteran players from their previous team, a process known as “contract buyout.” Blake Griffin’s contract with the Detroit Pistons stipulated that he would be paid $75 million this season and next. According to sources, Griffin was willing to accept a $13 million pay cut from Detroit in exchange for being released to play elsewhere.
By executing a contract “buyout” deal, Detroit and San Antonio could cut their costs and shed an expensive player in both cases. In exchange, the two NBA All-Stars were free to sign a contract with any other NBA team for the rest of the season.
As a result, the Brooklyn Nets (who play in the NBA’s most populous market, New York City) scooped up both Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge.
What was the total cost of these two high-profile “rental” players to the Brooklyn Nets?
These players were both signed for the NBA’s minimum wage. The Nets will pay a total of about $2 million to two NBA All-Stars.
Why does the NBA (board and franchise owners) promote/allow the league’s best teams to continue raiding the league’s worst teams before the playoffs for the best players?
Of course, because of television ratings!
The NBA is well aware that the National Football League recently agreed to a series of lucrative television contract extensions. During the 2024/2025 season, the NBA’s contracts with ABC/ESPN and Turner Sports will expire.
In basketball terms, a full-court press appears to be in progress to boost the NBA’s dwindling national television ratings.
This year, a possible NBA Finals matchup between an Eastern All-Star team based in Brooklyn, New York, and the defending champions from Los Angeles, led by LeBron James and his star-studded Lakers, would almost certainly boost television ratings significantly.
The NBA’s television ratings have been declining over the last year as many fans have been turned off by the league’s and its players’ political stances.
The NBA’s executives and ownership associations may believe that a timely rating bonanza featuring New York vs. LA in the NBA Finals this summer will be just the ticket to help the league regain its competitive footing.
While some basketball fans will be overjoyed to see two teams with star-studded rosters compete for the championship this year, a growing number of fans will be saying, “Hey, this really stinks! The NBA, in my opinion, is rigged.”
After watching the NBA family’s tricks over the past week, they might be right after all.
Three of the NBA’s most infamous rigged games
In his 24 years as commissioner, some say that David Stern has rigged hundreds of games. The three we’re going to talk about, people consider being the most important. These are, without a doubt, the most well-known rigged games in recent memory.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Lakers, Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference Final
During the regular season, Portland won 59 games. The Trail Blazers were a powerful, skilled, and athletic team.
They ranged in age from young to old. Sabonis, Pippen, and Schrempf were past their primes, but Wallace, Stoudamire, O’Neal, and Wells were still in their primes. Arvydas Sabonis, 6’10”, Rasheed Wallace, 6’9″, Scottie Pippen, 6’8″ Steve Smith, and 6’3″Damon Stoudamire made up their starting five.
Brian Grant (a real monster on the boards), Bonzi Wells, Jermaine O’Neal (who came out of high school), Detlef Schrempf, Greg Anthony, and Stacey Augman made up their bench.
Because NBA Commissioner David Stern wanted to make more money, this great team was denied a championship.
The Western Conference Championships will be decided on June 4 at The Staples Center. The Trail Blazers were leading the hometeam Lakers, 73-58, early in the fourth quarter, but were outscored 31-11 in the final 11 minutes and lost, 89-85, with the series tied at three wins each.
The Trail Blazers received 16 FTA, while the Lakers received 37 FTA. Arvydas Sabonis and Scottie Pippen, two of the Trail Blazers’ best defenders, both fouled out. Every call in the fourth quarter favored the Lakers.
Sabonis’ 5th and 6th fouls were both bad calls, as they were both on blocking calls. When Sabonis was injured, Portland had no choice but to turn to Brian Grant, who at 6’8″ was too short to play critical minutes at center against Shaq.
Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Lakers, Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals
During the regular season, Sacramento won 61 games. Chris Webber, Mike Bibby, Doug Christie, Peja Stojakovic, and Vlade Divac made up their starting lineup. Bobby Jackson, Hedo Turkoglu, Scott Pollard, and Lawrence Funderburke were on the bench. The Kings were a high-octane offense that thrived on run-and-gun tactics.
“In the fourth quarter, too many of the calls were egregiously incorrect, all in Sacramento’s favor. I’ve never seen officiating as bad as Game 6 in a game of this magnitude.” – wrote Michael Wilborn from the Washington Post.
In the fourth quarter, the Lakers took 27 foul shots. Sacramento was up three games to 2 in the series, but the game was rigged, and they could not advance to the NBA Finals. The Lakers took 15 more FTA in the game, with both Scott Pollard and Vlade Divac fouling out on plays where they did not even touch a Laker player.
“I’ve been covering the NBA for 20 years, and this is the worst officiating I’ve ever seen in a major game,” said USA Today’s David Dupree.
Miami Heat vs. Dallas Mavericks, Game 5 of the 2006 NBA Finals
The 2005-2006 Dallas Mavericks season was unquestionably the best in NBA history.
During the regular season, Dallas won 60 games. In addition to being named NBA MVP and winning the 3-point contest, Dirk Nowitzki set career highs in scoring (26.6 points per game), field goal percentage (48.0 percent), 3-point field goal percentage (40.6 percent), and free throw percentage (40.6 percent) (90.1 percent ).
Jason Terry, Devin Harris, Josh Howard, and Desagana Diop joined Nowitzki in Dallas’ starting lineup. Erick Dampier, Jerry Stackhouse, and Adrian Griffin came off the bench.
According to an Associated Press report, he said to Stern, and other NBA officials seated at the scorer’s table, “[Bleep] you!” and was overheard shouting venomously in the jubilant din. [Bleep] you, [Bleep] you, [Bleep] you! It’s a rigged game!’
Game 5 would be David Stern’s opportunity to repay all of his sponsors.
Wade went to the foul line a total of 25 times, with five separate fouls in which he was never touched. They’re known as the Phantom Fouls among internet bloggers.
Dallas ended the game with six more field goals and 11 more rebounds, but it was still a one-point loss. Both of Dallas’ low post defenders had been called for fouls. Dampier finished with five fouls after Diop fouled him out.