Ayrton Oneill
There have been many allegations of the National Basketball Association (NBA) being rigged, with some of the accusations coming from NBA players themselves. One of the most prominent accusers is NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, who suggested that the league was scripted when he played for the Los Angeles Lakers. O'Neal claimed that he knew the Lakers were playing the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals before the postseason even started. Other players, such as Evan Turner and Andre Iguodala, have also claimed that the NBA is rigged, stating that the league calls in specific referees to extend playoff series. While these allegations are controversial, they have sparked ongoing discussions and investigations into the integrity of the NBA.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| NBA rigged | Shaquille O'Neal, Evan Turner, and Andre Iguodala claim so |
| Referees | Scott Foster, Tony Brothers |
| Teams | Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings |
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What You'll Learn
NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal claims the league was scripted
Conspiracy theories about the National Basketball Association (NBA) being rigged are not new, with NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal being the latest to add fuel to the fire. During an appearance on his podcast, O'Neal, a four-time NBA champion, revealed that he knew the league was scripted during his career.
O'Neal relayed a story about the 2000 Finals, his first championship season, when he played for the Los Angeles Lakers. According to Shaq, he overheard a conversation between Lakers coach Phil Jackson and team trainer Garry Vitti, where Jackson asked Vitti to get hotels in Indiana because that's who they were going to play in the NBA Finals. At the time, the Lakers were still in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, playing the Sacramento Kings. This led O'Neal to believe that their entire championship run was scripted.
The Lakers went on to play against the Indiana Pacers and won the first title of Shaq and his teammate Kobe Bryant's careers. O'Neal claimed that he didn't realize it was all scripted until he got to Indiana for Game 1 of the Finals. This revelation has sparked further discussions and intrigue among fans and the media, with many now questioning the legitimacy of the NBA's championship wins.
While O'Neal's claim has not been officially confirmed or denied, it has brought to light the ongoing narrative of game-rigging in professional sports. It remains to be seen how the NBA will respond to these allegations, but it has certainly left fans and followers of the league with a lot to ponder.
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Controversial referee Scott Foster
Scott Foster, born on April 8, 1967, in Silver Spring, Maryland, is an American professional basketball referee for the NBA. He started refereeing for the NBA in the 1994–95 season and wears the number 48. He is often nicknamed "Agent 48" and "The Extender" because teams trailing in a playoff series have often won games he has officiated, thus extending the series.
Foster's career in the NBA progressed, and he began to attract more attention for questionable on-court decisions, mainly due to his contentious relationship with Chris Paul. Paul's frustration with Foster grew during a regular-season game in 2018, where he publicly criticized Foster, stating, "I got a tech tonight, Scott Foster at his finest. Never fails." The situation worsened during the Western Conference Finals, where Foster officiated Game 7 against the Golden State Warriors. Controversial missed calls contributed to the Rockets' loss, fuelling further allegations of biased officiating.
Foster has also been linked to a match-fixing scandal involving former NBA referee Tim Donaghy, who pleaded guilty to two federal charges for match-fixing in 2007. According to court records, Donaghy made 134 phone calls to Foster between October 2006 and April 2007, during which he admitted to betting on games or passing on game information to gamblers. Despite this, the NBA has taken no action against Foster, and he continues to officiate critical games, raising questions about the league's motives.
From 2016 to 2023, players consistently voted for Foster as the worst referee in the NBA. This has led to concerns about why a referee who is consistently voted the worst is given the responsibility of officiating some of the league's most important postseason games.
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The worst-kept secret: NBA is rigged
It is no secret that the NBA is rigged, and yet it remains one of the most popular sports leagues in the world. From players to pundits, many have claimed that the league is scripted, with some even providing anecdotes to back up their assertions.
NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, for instance, claimed that during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers, he knew they would be playing the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals even before the postseason began. O'Neal's story is supported by an incident during the 2000 Finals, his first championship season. He recalled a conversation between Lakers coach Phil Jackson and team trainer Garry Vitti, where Jackson instructed Vitti to book hotels in Indiana, indicating that they would be playing the Indiana Pacers in the Finals.
Other players, such as Evan Turner and Andre Iguodala, have also voiced similar sentiments. They assert that the league calls upon referees like Scott Foster or Tony Brothers when they want to extend a playoff series. This claim is not without merit, as evidenced by Tim Donaghy's numerous phone calls to Foster during a six-month period while he was rigging games.
While these allegations may seem like conspiracies, they persist as a pervasive narrative in professional sports. The NBA's popularity doesn't seem to be affected by these accusations, and many fans continue to passionately follow the league, even if they suspect the outcome of certain games may be pre-determined.
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Yahoo Sports confirms NBA is rigged
It's long been suspected that the NBA has fixed games, and now Yahoo Sports can confirm that the worst-kept secret in basketball is true. The NBA is rigged. This revelation has sent shockwaves through the basketball world, with fans expressing their dismay and disappointment on online forums. The NBA has yet to respond to these revelations, but the evidence is hard to ignore.
NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, who won three straight titles with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2000 to 2002, recently came forward with his own experiences of a fixed league. On his podcast, O'Neal recounted a story from his first championship season in 2000. He overheard a conversation between Lakers coach Phil Jackson and team trainer Gary Vitti, where they discussed making hotel arrangements for the NBA Finals, despite still being in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. O'Neal's story adds weight to the growing body of evidence that the NBA has been rigging games for years.
Further evidence of the NBA's rigging practices can be found in the league's referee assignments. It is well known that controversial referees Scott Foster and Tony Brothers have been used by the NBA to extend playoff series. This tactic was even acknowledged by players Evan Turner and Andre Iguodala, who publicly stated that the NBA is rigged. The involvement of these particular referees and the league's history of biased investigations further support the claims that the NBA has been manipulating game outcomes.
While the NBA has denied these allegations, the statements from renowned players and the suspicious patterns in referee assignments suggest otherwise. This confirmation from Yahoo Sports has left many fans feeling betrayed and questioning the integrity of the league. The NBA will need to address these concerns and work towards restoring trust in the fairness of their games.
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Evan Turner and Andre Iguodala's take on rigged NBA
There have long been rumours and conspiracy theories that the NBA is rigged, and some players have added fuel to the fire. NBA veterans Evan Turner and Andre Iguodala are two such players who have alluded to the possibility of the league being rigged.
In 2023, Turner and Iguodala appeared on Gil's Arena, a podcast hosted by Gilbert Arenas, to talk about stories from their NBA careers. The two were teammates on the Philadelphia 76ers for around four seasons. During the podcast, Turner and Iguodala revealed that they believed a Game 7 against the Boston Celtics was rigged. Turner recalled a conversation with Elton Brand, a veteran player on the team, before the game in 2012. Brand told him, "You know we're going to have to win by 15 just to win by 1". Turner, who was a young player at the time, was shocked and felt that Brand was telling him that the referees were favouring the opponent team.
Iguodala and Turner's comments on the podcast resurfaced in 2025 after the Dallas Mavericks received the #1 pick in the NBA Lottery, despite having only a 1.8% chance. This stunning development led to renewed speculation about the league being rigged.
In addition to Turner and Iguodala's allegations, other incidents have contributed to the perception that the NBA may be rigged. For example, NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal claimed that he knew the Los Angeles Lakers were playing the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals before the postseason even started. Furthermore, there have been concerns about the integrity of referees, with players believing that some referees are crooked. In 2007, there was a betting scandal involving referee Tim Donaghy, which further fuelled suspicions. While there may be no definitive proof, the notion that the NBA is rigged continues to persist and remains a controversial topic among fans and players alike.
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Frequently asked questions
Many people, including NBA players like Shaquille O'Neal, Evan Turner, and Andre Iguodala, believe that the NBA is rigged. However, there is no definitive evidence to support these claims.
Some people point to instances of favourable refereeing decisions, the league's desire to extend playoff series, and alleged conversations between team personnel as evidence of rigging.
There could be financial incentives, such as increasing revenue through longer playoff series, or favouring certain teams or players to boost their popularity and marketability.
Scott Foster is a controversial referee who has been implicated in rigging allegations. Tim Donaghy, a key figure in an NBA rigging scandal, called Foster over 130 times in six months, raising suspicions about their relationship.
NBA officials have not directly addressed these allegations. While there have been investigations into specific incidents and individuals, no official statements confirm or deny the existence of widespread rigging.
