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Tim DonaghyTim Donaghy

NBA games were manipulated by refs based on points of emphasis, not by direct point shaving

Fixing games. I mean, some people think that I went out there and put Shaquille O'Neal to the bench or LeBron James to the bench so that some of these bets won. That's really not what happened. I picked the games based on relationships that existed between referees and players, referees and coaches, and referees and owners, and what took place in the morning meetings with the referees and what was going to be called that night and how a team was going to be put at an advantage or disadvantage.

The NBA and FBI dispute aspects of Donaghy's story, but his claim remains his official stance. It cannot be fully verified beyond his own testimony.
Void
Tim DonaghyTim Donaghy

Officiating in the 2002 Lakers-Kings series was manipulated to ensure it went to Game 7

Definitely manipulate it when you talk about Dick Bavetta at the in 2002... the famous Lakers Sacramento Game 6. He openly said to a lot of us that he was the NBA's go-to guy. He was put on Game 6s to make sure they went to a Game 7 and that was one of the most fucked up games in the history of the NBA.

While widely suspected by fans and media, the NBA has never admitted to this, and Bavetta has denied it. It remains a claim of a disgraced official.
Push
Tim DonaghyTim Donaghy

55 out of 58 NBA referees were gambling in violation of their contracts

Then [David Stern] did an investigation and found out 55 out of 58 NBA referees were gambling, going to casinos, betting on football, betting on golf, couldn't fire everybody, and immediately started to backtrack that whole thing.

The NBA's internal Pedowitz Report acknowledged that many refs gambled in ways that violated league rules, but the exact number remains disputed.
Void
Tim DonaghyTim Donaghy

NBA officiating in the playoffs is manipulated to extend series for revenue

When you talk about the way the business was operated and how they were dictating what the referees were calling, especially during the playoffs, I think there's some culpability there... you're not fixing these games, but you're manipulating them for the bottom line of going five, six, and seven games.

The NBA has always vehemently denied these claims, but the take is a core part of the Donaghy 'story.'
Void
Tim DonaghyTim Donaghy

James Harden travels are intentionally ignored because the NBA wants the highlights

The thing is that the NBA doesn't want that travel called. And when [James Harden] does travel, and even when it's obvious, they'll come out and say it has something to do with the gather, the Eurostep, the way the rule is written. It's just a bunch of bullshit to protect the fact that nobody called the travel.

While Harden's 'gather' was technically within the rules for years, the NBA did eventually clarify rules and points of emphasis to limit his specific step-back move.

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