When did the NBA become a “fixed” league?
By: Doug Upstone
The NBA Finals are just days away and this nagging feeling has been bothering me for some time. For years, even decades, there has been a public perception that professional basketball is run by a higher power than the players and coaches. It has become assumed in the thoughts of the general public and by the masses that either wager on or follow the NBA that enough (not every) games are predetermined similar to professional wrestling.
I’ve personally heard this for years and have become increasingly fascinated, especially come playoff time, when the discussion and contemplation reach a fever pitch.
For me, it’s the “why factor” and wondered why elements changed from things like aliens in Roswell, NM and the U.S. Government setting up 9/11 in New York City, to the “accepted” point of view by so many that follow or bet on the NBA that it is in some way fixed.
While perusing numerous forums to see what people are thinking as I usually do, I was struck this year more than ever about comments that people shared about the NBA playoffs.
Among the various quotes found were these:
“The Lakers will be in the Finals because that what (David) Stern wants.”
“The Suns and Magic have no shot (in conference finals), they (the NBA one would surmise) want the Celtics and Lakers for TV ratings.”
“Kobe (Bryant) will get every call and the Lakers will win the NBA Finals again, the series will have to go 7 to get max dollars for the league.”
While these statements in and of themselves are harmless, the follow up comments by almost everyone were in agreement.
For those under the age of 30, the single greatest impact for this belief was referee Tim Donaghy being caught and prosecuted for admitting betting on games. For the suspicious mind, this created validation of belief, that yes; it was very possible to fix a NBA game. While Donaghy stuck to his story of not fixing games, public perception was altered in their minds the fix was in.
Trying to understand where this idea was formulated in the first place, possibly it starts with the history of championship teams.
The NBA more than any other sports league, has the best teams being crowned champions. It remains the last bastion in sports where a team doesn’t just get hot and win the whole thing. How else could one explain how other than the Houston Rockets of 1995-96, they are the only team other than a top three seed to win a NBA title since the current 16-team format was changed in 1984. The Rockets (sixth seed) were the defending NBA champs at the time and suffered an injury-riddled regular season before getting healthy late and became back-to-back champions.
In one way it’s easy for people to be jaded. Boston won 11 titles in 13 years in the late1950’s and 60’s and 17 overall. The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Celtics in the finals six times in the 1960’s and have 15 titles if you count the Minneapolis Lakers who won five of the first eight when the NBA was formulated.
The Chicago Bulls won six in eight years with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen and more recently, Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs captured four rings in nine years. Add them up and that is 42 titles among four teams in the league’s 63 years of existence, 66.6 percent and the number is guaranteed to go higher with this year’s finalists.
A good friend who I can talk candidly about these types of topics who works on the Vegas Strip doesn’t believe games are fixed, because of fixed limits on NBA contests and the lack of unusual movement, plus the sportsbooks themselves have a stake because if it were true this was happening, nobody would ever bet on professional basketball again.
I questioned a professional gambler in Nevada I’ve known for some time.
His name is Sal, who bets daily. “It is at times understandable why amateur bettors would believe the NBA has games that appear fixed, it just isn’t factual. If the league was so desperate for money and ratings, why wouldn’t every series go six or seven games, every year?
“In order for games to be fixed, you need a common denominator. Somebody that has money and wants to make more and someone else who needs money and once they taste it, wants more.”
“No NBA player is in need of cash other than maybe a 12th man on any team and they have no influence on the outcome. Would they be a source of information about team problems with the coach or girl friend problems, sure, but do you chase around making max bets at all different outlets on this information without a track record. Not me.”
Sal added, “Referees are the easiest targets because they believe they are underpaid, but their true influence has to do more with totals, since they can either blow or swallow the whistle.”
Nevertheless, public perception is still prevalent.
I put the question of fixed games in the NBA to the StatFox Forum and by the time I had to write this article, every person responded with a “yes”.
The responses were numerous, but all in agreement.
“All are fixed, easy money”.
“….billions being bet .......now when that many can control the masses who wager...why wouldn't they fix the games when the money is tilt by a 80/20 margin it is simple economics”
“Of course it’s fixed. One ref gets arrested and says I’m not the only one, and no one wants to investigate who else?
“Yes I do believe all sports are fixed. The reason is quite simple to me and that is the fact that with the amount of cash being wagered on games, there is no way they will leave the outcome to pure chance or luck.”
“Yes-because anytime money is involved it corrupts”
“Did the caveman invent fire? Is Ed "Too Tall" Jones to tall?
It certainly is intriguing subject and while there is no way to prove it one way or another, the public has spoken and they see it only one way.