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In its 75-year history, the NBA has certainly seen its fair share of scandals, controversies and conspiracy theories.
These have ranged from fans claiming that the league rigs games to get maximum viewership, to reporters accusing the league of favoring big market cities. There have even been preposterous conspiracy theories suggesting there are magnets in the ball and the rim to decide which shot goes in.
While commissioner Adam Silver doesn't address or deal with most of these bogus claims, it does harm the reputation of the NBA in people's eyes.
What are some controversies that have harmed the NBA's reputation?
Every now and then, the referees take over a game and fans start to believe there is more to the sport than the players on the hardwood.
Many have accused the referees of deciding games and forcing their will. Every time a team loses because of a questionable call, its fans rush to social media suggesting the officials were involved.
A huge controversy swept NBA fans in the 1985 draft when Patrick Ewing, a superstar center out of Georgetown, got selected first by the New York Knicks. The NBA draft lottery system was only introduced that year, so fans and analysts became suspicious.
Many suggested that then commissioner David Stern wanted a big market city like New York City to have a superstar to generate revenue. The lottery system was the perfect way to get them Ewing.
There is also the theory that Michael Jordan's first retirement in 1993 wasn't a retirement, but a secret suspension for gambling.
Overall, there are too many theories to list over the near-80 year history of the NBA. So, without further ado, let's take a look at some of the top controversies that tarnished the league's reputation.
Note: This list is not ranked.
#1 2007 Referee Betting Scandal
The referee betting scandal of 2007 was arguably the worst blow to the NBA's reputation, unlike any other the league has seen.
Referee Tim Donaghy confessed that he bet on the games he officiated, and many members within organized crime filled their pockets because of him. Imagine the dismay of teams, fans, the front office and, most importantly, the players who were working hard day and night only to have their game rigged by a greedy referee.
The FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) launched an investigation into Donaghy's practices in 2007. He later surrendered and plead guilty to two federal charges. Donaghy was sentenced to 15 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
He now appears on popular sports shows and podcasts to discuss conspiracy theories such as the 2016 NBA Finals or the 2002 Western Conference Finals.
Tim Donaghy had been making controversial calls and whistles since the beginning of his career. Consequently, his conduct wasn't suspicious for a long time.
He also admitted to giving his high school friends tips about which games to bet on and would fix the games he officiated. Investigations revealed that the games that Donaghy officiated in suddenly had their points spread moved before tip-off. This suggested that major money was wagered on the game.
The big money almost always won, indicating outside factors were at play.
Fans were already turning away from games ever since the Chicago Bulls dynasty ended and the Donaghy scandal was a major blow the league's image. At the time, US Congressman Bobby Rush called it "one of the most damaging scandals in the history of American sports."
Meanwhile, sportswriters claimed that the integrity of the sport had been damaged.
#2 Malice at the Palace
"Malice at the Palace" is considered the most infamous brawl in NBA history. It shocked the sports world as such fights were common in the 1980s and '90s but not at the time it occurred in 2004.
Fans, coaches, players and officials felt their lives were threatened and the safety of practically everyone on the court was in question.
The Indiana Pacers came to visit the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Nov. 19, 2004. The game was called off with 45.9 seconds left on the clock with the road team leading 97-82.
At the time, the Pistons were the defending champions but had gotten off to a rocky start. They were 4-3 heading into the game, while the Pacers were 6-2. Naturally, the reigning champs were frustrated with losing by 15 on their home floor.
When Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest fouled Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace, the latter shoved him and a fight broke out. After the fight was settled, a fan had the audacity to throw a drink at Artest's head after which he ran to the stands to grab the alleged offender.
This escalated into a full blown brawl in the arena, involving fans, coaches, and players.
Fans and other players hadn't seen anything that intense and many called it a disgrace. Nine players were suspended by the NBA, including Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson, Jermaine O'Neal, Ben Wallace, Reggie Miller and Chauncey Billups.
The nine players received a total suspension of 136 games and accumulated roughly $11 million in lost wages. Artest, Jackson and O'Neal received the lion's share of suspensions for 86, 30 and 15 games, respectively. Wallace was suspended for six games, while Miller and Billups got one game apiece.
Larry Brown, the then-coach of the Pistons, said after the game:
"That was the ugliest thing I've seen as a coach or a player. I'm embarrassed for our league … And disappointed for our young people to see that."
The then-coach of the Pacers, Rick Carlisle, said after the game:
"I felt like I was fighting for my life out there. I'm sorry the game had to end this way."
#3 2002 Western Conference Finals
The 2002 Western Conference Finals is arguably the biggest case study in the NBA with respect to match-fixing.
The ugliest series for sports fans and especially Sacramento natives, the officiating in this seven-game series, especially Game 6, was laughable. It disgusted fans, analysts, reporters and even players and coaches.
The Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal-led LA Lakers were on their way to a third straight championship after a dominant regular season. They ran into the 61-win Sacramento Kings in the Western Conference Finals.
The Kings led the series 2-1 but Robert "Big Shot Bob" Horry hit the game-winner in Game 4 to tie the series at two apiece. The Lakers then dropped Game 5 to go down 2-3 in the series.
The NBA and its fans absolutely adored the LA Lakers. A legend-filled franchise, the Purple and Gold brought in viewership and ratings, and the league knew it. Bryant was the star kid and the future of the league while Shaq was the most dominant big man in the sport.
Then-NBA commissioner David Stern once said the ideal Finals matchup for them would be "Lakers vs Lakers."
Disgraced official Tim Donaghy, who officiated Game 6 of the series between the Lakers and Kings, spoke out against the NBA a few years ago. He suggested that the league needed to extend the series to ensure Bryant and Co. kept playing.
Donaghy said in a 2019 interview with NBC Sports Bay Area:
"There’s no doubt in my mind that the Sacramento Kings should have a ring on their finger... That Game 6 was definitely a situation where towards the end of that game they got robbed."
In Game 6, the referees were clearly biased and almost every fan could see it. The Lakers shot an absurd 27 free throws in just the fourth quarter while the Kings attempted 25 over the course of the entire game.
The officiating blatantly favored the Purple and Gold and the referees were blowing or swallowing their whistles at foolish things. Kobe Bryant even elbowed Mike Bibby in the face and the officials simply ignored it.
ESPN analyst Michael Wilbon said at the time:
"It was an embarrassment to the league. It was the worst officiating contest in professional basketball."
The entire series was brutal. Four of the seven games came down to the final seconds. Two games ended on game-winning shots while the most important match, Game 7, was decided in overtime.
The Lakers-Kings series turned fans away from the NBA. They believed they couldn't trust the games anymore and felt that watching them was a waste of time.
Poll : Which scandal was worse?
2002 Western Conference Finals
Malice at the Palace
26 votes
