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On the early morning of October 23, the NBA group was shocked by the FBI’s arrests of Portland Path Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Warmth guard Terry Rozier.
David Stern oversaw the league’s explosive progress throughout his 30-year tenure as NBA Commissioner from 1984 to 2014 and helped set up the WNBA in 1996, however endured his fair proportion of scandal.
Present commish Adam Silver is coping with a serious scandal proper now, however is it greater than something Stern handled?
Stern managed controversies throughout that interval and oversaw the relocation of six franchises, most notably when the Seattle SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma Metropolis to grow to be the Thunder in 2008.
In June, the Thunder received its first NBA Championship since relocating, defeating the Indiana Pacers in seven video games. To at the present time, NBA followers in Seattle are heartbroken concerning the workforce’s transfer 17 years in the past.
From a serious betting scandal in the course of the Stern period to ongoing betting controversies, listed below are the highest 5 most controversial scandals in NBA historical past.
1. NBA Betting Scandals (2024-2025)
Since Billups, Damon Jones, and Rozier had been arrested by the FBI, there was main concern about betting throughout the NBA.
In March 2024, the NBA launched an investigation into former Toronto Raptors guard Jontay Porter, brother of Brooklyn Nets guard Michael Porter, over “a number of situations of betting irregularities over the previous a number of months.”
Over a month later, Porter obtained a lifetime ban from the NBA for violating the league’s playing guidelines by sharing confidential info with sports activities bettors.
That was the warning shot.
In one of many video games he performed, on March 20, 2024, within the matchup between the Toronto Raptors and Memphis Grizzlies, Porter restricted his involvement as a result of “he was feeling sick.” Many within the know knew one thing was off and afterward so did the general public.
Over a yr later, the FBI introduced the arrests of Billups, Rozier, and Jones, the previous Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach, for allegedly conducting rigged sports activities betting and poker video games.
The league positioned Billups and Rozier on depart and can withhold their full salaries pending the assessment of the federal indictments. The NBPA has made a press release denouncing that monetary transfer.
There was an increase in betting considerations throughout the league in recent times, and it’s fairly troubling. The integrity of the sport is the explanation why that is No. 1 on our checklist. Nothing is extra vital if the followers don’t assume the result is legit.
2. The Tim Donaghy Scandal (2007)
Arguably probably the most controversial scandal in NBA historical past occurred in 2007, however is available in No. 2 on our checklist. Referee Tim Donaghy was accused of betting on video games and manipulating the purpose unfold. The FBI investigated Donaghy for betting tens of 1000’s of {dollars} on video games throughout 4 seasons from 2003 to 2007.
In August 2007, Donaghy pleaded responsible to 2 federal expenses associated to the playing scandal, and a yr later, he obtained a sentence of 15 months in jail and three years of supervised launch.
After the playing scandal emerged, Donaghy resigned as an NBA official in 2007. He had officiated from 1994 to 2007, throughout which he labored 772 common season video games and 26 playoff video games.
Within the ensuing years. Donaghy made a collection of accusations of sport that had been as soon as manipulated by varied referees. One of the crucial poorly officiated video games was notably Sport 6 of the 2002 Western Convention Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings. Within the fourth quarter, the Lakers shot 27 free throws and in the end received the sport (and collection) over the Kings. In actual time, many followers complained and even veteran reporters, concerning the high quality of officiating in that sport. Donaghy’s feedback solely grew the notion there had been manipulated video games.
Thoughts you, apologies if I make you all really feel outdated out right here; I used to be 4 years outdated when my hometown workforce, the Phoenix Suns, had been eradicated by the San Antonio Spurs within the 2007 Western Convention Semifinals, who went on to win all of it that yr.
Within the aftermath of the collection, Donaghy defined the explanation he rigged the sport within the Spurs’ favor vs. the Suns was the “dislike” of proprietor Robert Sarver by his superior.
To at the present time, I stay inquisitive about what the officiating crew actually did and the way a lot it manipulated the result between the Suns and Spurs in Sport 3 of that collection. Even somewhat doubt ought to be an excessive amount of for the league to simply accept. It does make you surprise.
3. Donald Sterling Receives Lifetime Ban in Adam Silver’s First Yr as NBA Commissioner (2014)
Donald Sterling was the proprietor of the Los Angeles Clippers from 1981 to 2014, till new NBA Commissioner Adam Silver handed him a lifetime ban.
Sterling was one of the criticized homeowners in American sports activities historical past for the Clippers’ struggles as a franchise and his decisions-making all through the years.
In his early years when the Clippers had been primarily based in San Diego, he obtained a $10,000 tremendous from the league for making feedback about accepting his workforce ending final to draft a participant like Corridor of Famer Ralph Sampson. Sampson determined to remain in faculty in 1982 after his junior yr as a result of he didn’t need to play for the Clippers. He wasn’t the one elite faculty gamers that didn’t need to play for Sterling.
Quick ahead to the early 2010s. The Clippers herald Blake Griffin, the workforce’s No. 1 total decide within the 2009 NBA Draft, and Chris Paul, among the finest level guards in league historical past, to contend for a title.
It seemed just like the Clippers had been legit title contenders for the primary time in however on April 25, 2014, the franchise was rocked by one thing that many didn’t think about all that shocking, different that it went public. Non-public recordings of Sterling making racist feedback about V. Stiviano had been made public and it painted a foul mild on having somebody in his place with these views.
His remarks impacted the league, particularly its Black gamers, who had been seen carrying shirts inside-out “to obscure any workforce brand” throughout their pregame huddle within the postseason.
4 days later, Silver introduced in a dwell press convention that Sterling would obtain a lifetime ban and a $2.5 million tremendous, the utmost allowed by the league’s structure.
Simply 11 years later, the Clippers now play in their very own residence enviornment, the Intuit Dome, with Steve Ballmer as its proprietor, and have skilled reasonable success as a franchise in recent times. Los Angeles made its first look within the Western Convention Finals in 2021, dropping to the Phoenix Suns in six video games.
Sterling gave the sport a black eye, however ultimately, the compelled sale of the workforce nonetheless earned him tens of millions upon million of {dollars}. It was embarrassing for the league, however how really for an once more man?
4. Malice on the Palace
Quite a bit occurred on the night time of November 19, 2004, when the Malice on the Palace came about throughout a sport between the defending NBA champions, the Detroit Pistons, and the Indiana Pacers. It was a chaotic day in Michigan for NBA gamers and followers, with penalties starting from fines and suspensions to lifetime bans.
The season earlier than, these two groups confronted off within the 2004 Jap Convention Finals, with the Pistons advancing to the NBA Finals in six video games over the top-seeded Pacers.
With lower than a minute left within the fourth quarter, Pistons middle Ben Wallace drew a foul on Pacers ahead Ron Artest, who hit him throughout the again whereas attempting to attain a layup. The irony is, the Pacers’ regulars didn’t need to be within the sport and Artest was egged on by teammate Jamaal Tinsley. What occurred subsequent was madness by NBA requirements, however did it really want to occur?
The battle between the 2 gamers started when Wallace slapped Artest within the face, prompting gamers and coaches from each Detroit and Indiana to assemble round.
In the meantime, Artest was mendacity on the scorer’s desk whereas Wallace threw a towel at him, and teammate Reggie Miller was backing him. The incident escalated when a fan, John Inexperienced, threw a plastic cup of Food regimen Coke at his chest, inflicting Artest to lose his mood and go into the stands after Detroit followers. Within the melee, Artest initially went after the flawed fan within the viewers.
Extra Pistons followers in attendance be a part of Inexperienced in throwing meals and drinks at Pacers gamers because the incident escalated. It was ugly. It was surprising and a few individuals even known as 911 to get policemen over to The Palace of Auburn Hills. That night time at The Palace felt like a scary film for sports activities followers worldwide.
Suspensions, authorized Fees and Safety Modifications
Following the Malice on the Palace, 5 Pistons followers concerned (Inexperienced, John Ackerman, Bryant Jackson, William Paulson, and David Wallace, Ben Wallace’s brother) and 5 Pacers gamers confronted expenses of various levels of assault and battery. Three Indiana gamers (Artest, Stephen Jackson, and Jermaine O’Neal) obtained indefinite suspensions and confronted authorized penalties that affected the Pacers’ remaining season.
Stern issued suspensions with out pay to 9 gamers from each the Pacers and Pistons, totaling over 140 video games and costing practically $11 million in wage.
Artest was suspended for 86 video games (73 common season video games and 13 playoff video games), the longest in NBA historical past, and misplaced practically $5 million as a consequence of his actions in the course of the incident.
Jackson obtained a 30-game suspension and misplaced practically $2 million in wage, whereas O’Neal was initially suspended for 25 video games, later lowered to fifteen video games.
Much more than that, the Pacers had been having an unimaginable season, and plenty of felt the workforce had a fantastic probability to win a NBA title that season. That core by no means got here shut once more.
The NBA launched new safety tips on February 17, 2005, for all workforce arenas and enhanced safety for gamers and coaches.
The Pacers completed the 2004-05 season with a 44-38 document and misplaced to the Pistons within the playoffs, as soon as once more within the Jap Convention Semifinals. One of many biggest in franchise historical past, Reggie Miller, introduced his retirement on the finish of the season after taking part in for 18 years with Indiana. He by no means received a NBA title.
The Pistons completed second within the Jap Convention with a 54-28 document and superior to the 2005 NBA Finals, by which they misplaced to the San Antonio Spurs in seven video games.
The incident is extra memorable than the Indiana or Detroit misplaced season. The NBA by no means needs to see that occur once more.
5. Latrell Sprewell Choking Incident (1997)
Six years earlier than I used to be even born, Golden State Warriors capturing guard Latrell Sprewell did one thing unthinkable. A terrific participant who had as soon as surprising incident overshadow his 13-year skilled profession.
On December 1, 1997, head coach P.J. Carlesimo yelled at Sprewell to make ‘crispier passes’ throughout a apply.
There was some animosity brewing between the 2 and Sprewell ended up attacking Carlesimo, grabbing his neck and choking him for seven to 10 teammates earlier than teammates intervened. Simply 20 minutes later, he returned to apply and punched Carlesimo within the face earlier than being pulled away for good.
Because of this, the NBA suspended Sprewell for ten video games with out pay, and the following day and an enormous public uproar and photographs of Carlesimo surfaced, the Warriors voided the remainder of his contract, with the league suspending him for a complete of 68 video games over a yr. The Warriors initially voided his contract, however in arbitration that ruling was over-turned.
Following the incident, Sprewell rejoined the league in 1999, taking part in 5 seasons with the New York Knicks and two seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves earlier than retiring in 2005.
Carlesimo continued teaching the Golden State till 1999 and served as an assistant on Gregg Popovich‘s employees with the San Antonio Spurs, profitable three championships in 2003, 2005, and 2007.
There had lengthy been on-court fights within the NBA, however the considered a participant and coach getting right into a bodily altercation at apply was the explanation this incident cracks our checklist. Sprewell’s public picture by no means actually recovered. Let’s hope an incident like this by no means occurs once more.
Honorable Mentions
A blockbuster commerce between the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks came about in February 2025. The Mavericks unexpectedly traded Slovenian All-Star Luka Doncic to the Lakers in trade for Anthony Davis, who received a 2020 NBA Championship with the workforce.
When Davis made his debut with the Mavericks, he injured his hip abductor and missed the following 18 video games, by which Dallas missed the playoffs the yr after making it to the 2024 NBA Finals.
Mavericks middle Anthony Davis is headed to the locker.
He entered the sport with a Bilateral Achilles Tendinopathy damage.
Davis seemed to step laborious on the bottom and began limping immediately to the bench. pic.twitter.com/lQoW4hgtcA
— Ron Harrod Jr. (@RonKnowsSports) October 30, 2025
Followers in Dallas are nonetheless upset with common supervisor Nico Harrison, even chanting “Hearth Nico” throughout residence video games at American Airways Heart. Within the aftermath, the Mavericks obtained the primary total decide within the 2025 NBA Draft, choosing Cooper Flagg out of Duke with the highest decide.
It’s simply incomprehensible to Dallas followers that Luka may very well be traded and Davis is injured once more because the 2025-26 season ideas off. The explanation it didn’t crack the Prime 5? It’s enterprise and a few of the sport’s all-time greats have been traded.
One other honorable point out word was Robert Sarver‘s tumultuous tenure as proprietor of the Phoenix Suns for practically 19 years, throughout which the workforce missed the playoffs from 2011 to 2020.
Sarver obtained a one-year suspension and a $10 million tremendous in 2022 for allegations of racism and misogyny within the office. After receiving the implications of the investigation and authorized matter, he offered the Phoenix Suns and Mercury groups to Mat and Justin Ishbia in February 2023.
All of those NBA incidents had been surprising, however nothing tops the integrity of the sport. At the moment of playing being socially acceptable the place it as soon as was not, it’s going to be the most important challenge for the NBA to take management of maybe in its 75-year historical past.
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