Tim Donaghy is back in the conversation, thanks to 'Untold' doc, but why is he still relevant? (2024)

It has been more than 15 years since Tim Donaghy’s NBA betting scandal made headlines. Now there’s a Netflix documentary on the subject, and “Untold: Operation Flagrant Foul” is likely to be among the top watched shows on the streaming service this month.

The former NBA referee, who admitted to betting on games, pleaded guilty in 2008 to conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting wagering information to other individuals for his part in the NBA betting scandal.

Should be a simple discussion. Donaghy admitted his guilt, served prison time and there’s nothing else to see, right? Nexflix is betting you’re wrong.

Then-commissioner David Stern said in 2007 that Donaghy’s actions were an “isolated” situation. The NBA has never dignified any of Donaghy’s accusations that the league had officials manipulate outcomes to extend playoff series or that personal vendettas impacted calls in games. The NBA declined to participate in the documentary.

But Donaghy hasn’t gone away. And as long as there’s chatter among those hungry for any sign of a conspiracy theory, there will be interest.

“I did just go get gas at the Wawa and I was at the back of the line and the guy in the front of the line screamed back, ‘Yo bro, you’re trending No. 2 on Netflix,’” Donaghy told The Athletic. “I think that was kind of strange he would scream that in front of so many people, but it is what it is. And like I said before, it’s a little bit embarrassing, but I’m hoping the true story gets out there.”

In addition to his guilty plea, Donaghy wrote the book “Personal Foul: A First-Person Account of the Scandal that Rocked NBA,” released in 2009. FBI agent Phil Scala, who worked on the case, wrote the foreword for the book and appears in the Netflix show, openly questioning the NBA’s motives in not looking into more officials and in singling out Donaghy as the lone rogue referee.

There’s also “Gaming the Game” by Sean Patrick Griffin, which dives into debunking many of Donaghy’s truths about his role in the betting scandal. A professor of criminal justice at The Citadel, Griffin also has a website dedicated to the scandal.

Among the things he disputes after having viewed FBI documents are Donaghy’s claims as to when he stopped betting on games and how much money he made off the bets. He also pushes back against the narrative that Donaghy was pressured by one of the co-conspirators, Jimmy Battista, to participate in the betting.

It’s easy to dismiss Donaghy as a convicted felon out to keep his name in the public eye. Donaghy says it’s about the truth. His truth, which he believes is bolstered by Scala’s inclusion in “Untold.”

The documentary doesn’t necessarily make Donaghy more credible, as he and former high school classmates Battista and Thomas Martino (who also pleaded guilty for his role) tell conflicting stories about some scenarios. Scala raises questions about the NBA, but he is one voice that was part of the investigation. What remains the hook for Donaghy’s content is that he raises questions and makes accusations that are still discussed in NBA locker rooms. It’s the content that will keep viewers talking, wondering just how much truth there is to the allegation that officials singled out Allen Iverson for palming violations as payback.

There’s a reason teams want players to know who is officiating each game as they prepare. They are aware that certain referees call certain infractions more or will let certain things slide more than others. Knowing who is officiating makes a difference for players who rely on physicality because it might mean a close call on an offensive foul is a no call. Some referees might allow more dialogue with players and knowing who has a quick whistle can be the difference in not picking up a technical foul.

Then there are the alleged inside bets between officials Donaghy asserts were being made. Who would call the first foul, for example, with whoever blew the first whistle allegedly having to treat the crew to dinner.

There are players and coaches who believe some officials simply don’t like particular players. Some of those points have spilled into the public discourse. Chris Paul having lost 14 straight postseason contests when Scott Foster officiates his games is parsed as much as Paul’s own assist-to-turnover ratio.

“I think about certain referees that had the phone numbers for coaches and owners and players and were in constant communication with them and you knew that was going to spill onto the floor and they were going to be put at an advantage,” Donaghy said. “Or a referee hated a player or coach, that was also going to spill into a negative situation. That’s how I was really able to pick the games so well, and that’s what really intrigued the FBI. Relationships really spilled out onto the floor.”

One game Donaghy and many others point to as an egregious case of poor officiating: Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals. The Los Angeles Lakers were down 3-2 and the two-time defending champions faced elimination at home against the Sacramento Kings.

The Lakers shot 40 free throws that game, 28 combined for Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. The Kings shot 25 as a team in the 106-102 loss. The Lakers attempted 27 free throws in the fourth quarter to Sacramento’s nine.

Sacramento’s star, Chris Webber, had five fouls and center Vlade Divac fouled out, as did backup center Scot Pollard. Only one Laker, Derek Fisher, had more than four fouls. The Kings and their fans haven’t forgotten and many believe that game, which was tied heading into the fourth, was taken from them by officiating.

The Lakers would go on to win Game 7 at Sacramento in overtime and clinch their third championship. The Kings haven’t gotten close to a title since, failing to make it out of the second round of the playoffs in all the years after that series.

Some are mistaken in thinking Donaghy officiated that game. It was Dick Bavetta, Ted Bernhardt and Bob Delaney, and each officiated one game in the 2002 NBA Finals.

Donaghy weighed in on Game 6, again, in “Untold” and in this interview.

“It’s funny to me the three guys that did ref that game, for as atrocious of a job they did, and it’s a conference finals game … they move on to the NBA Finals,” Donaghy said.

The ratings for the documentary underscore that there’s still just enough cynicism in the world to keep Donaghy relevant for debates. “Untold” has been in the top-10 on the service this week, following its Aug. 30 release.

Donaghy said he’d like to get to a point where he can just be Tim, who is engaged to be married and the father of four daughters. But there’s always someone who wants to talk about his past. And as long as Donaghy is willing to talk, there will be content for shows like “Untold.”

If you’re like Griffin, the documentary won’t sway you at all. For others, “Untold” offers up the three co-conspirators trying to get you to see things from their point of view, with varying levels of blame being passed around.

It’s all something to talk about.

(Top Photo: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)

Jason Jones is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering Culture. Previously, he spent 16 years at the Sacramento Bee, covering the Sacramento Kings and Oakland Raiders. He's a proud Southern California native and a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley Follow Jason on Twitter @mr_jasonjones