NBA referees manipulated Game 6 of a 2002 playoff series to favor the Lakers and bring about a seventh game against the Sacramento Kings, disgraced former referee Tim Donaghy alleged in court papers filed Tuesday.
Describing two former referee peers as "company men," Donaghy claims in a letter filed by his lawyer that "it was in the NBA's interest to add another game to the series."
Without naming the teams involved, the letter to U.S. District Judge Carol Bagley Amon in Brooklyn describes a playoff series in 2002 that went seven games. The Lakers trailed Sacramento in the Western Conference finals, three games to two, before winning Games 6 and 7 -- the only series that year that lasted seven games.
In Game 6, Sacramento's Vlade Divac and Scot Pollard fouled out trying to guard Los Angeles' Shaquille O'Neal, and the Lakers shot 40 free throws -- 15 more than the Kings -- including 27 in the final quarter.
Consumer advocate Ralph Nader and the group League of Fans had asked Stern in 2002 to investigate the officiating in the Lakers-Kings series, citing harsh criticism of the referees in news coverage.
Donaghy's letter includes other allegations of misconduct by NBA executives and referees. NBA Commissioner David Stern called the allegations "baseless."
Donaghy, awaiting July 14 sentencing on his guilty plea to felony charges of taking cash payoffs from gamblers and betting on games himself, provided the letter to elaborate on the extent of his cooperation with federal agents and seek a reduction in sentence.
Donaghy told federal agents in September 2007 that he was told about the alleged manipulation by a referee who had worked the game, according to the letter from Donaghy attorney John Lauro. Donaghy alleged that this referee and another working the game ignored fouls committed by "Team 6," an apparent reference to the Lakers, and called "made-up fouls" against "Team 5" -- the Kings.
"My reaction to Donaghy's lawyer are that clearly as the date of sentencing gets closer, and the things he's thrown against the wall haven't stuck, he's rehashing a variety of things that have been given to the U.S. attorney and the FBI, fully investigated, and are baseless," Stern told ESPN before Tuesday night's Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Staples Center between the Lakers and Boston Celtics.
