Bird was livid after the LA Lakers won game 6 of the ‘84 Finals.
In the playoffs, emotions tend to run high, but they hit their peak when a player is in the NBA Finals. And if the words ‘Game 7’ are mentioned, expect those emotions to get better for even the greatest players. This was evident with Larry Bird when the Boston Celtics lost Game 6 of the 1984 NBA Finals 119-108 to LA Lakers.
With the series tied at 3-3, the three-time MVP accused then-commissioner David Stern and the NBA of deliberately pushing for a decisive Game 7 to capitalize on financial gains.
Bird made some big claims after losing Game 6
With the Lakers facing elimination, they threw everything they had at the Celtics in Game 6, making the game physical. After seeing three Celtics players (Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and Gerald Henderson) in foul trouble, and the Lakers outsourcing them 36-21 in the final quarter, Bird was furious and highlighted how larger forces are desperately gunning for a Game 7.
“Stern told a fan that the NBA needed a seven-game series, that the league needed money,” Bird said. “When the commissioner makes a statement like that to a fan, you know it’s going to be tough.”
The 12-time All-Star believed that when an NBA commissioner makes statements like that, events will unfold accordingly, subtly implying that there was no way his teammates could have closed out the series in six games.
If Larry Legend meant that the refs were biased towards the Lakers, it’s important to mention that the Celtics had 35 free throw attempts, while the Purple and Gold had only 17. Also, except for Bird and Henderson, all other Celtics players shot below 47% from the field, while five Lakers players shot 50% or better.
Despite the gravity of the accusations, Stern remained silent. His spokesperson – Brian McIntyre, dismissed Larry’s assertions as ‘ridiculous’ and suggested that the NBA Commissioner would simply laugh them off when informed.
Stern founded him in the same water in 2002
Stern’s connection to rigging high-stakes NBA games wasn’t just tied with the ‘84 Finals, but even in the 2002 WC Finals between the Lakers and Kings. With the Purple and Gold on the verge of being eliminated at home, they remarkably found themselves benign awarded 27 free throws in the fourth quarter to sneak a 106-102 win and force a Game 7.
According to referee Tim Donaghy, NBA executives directed referees to ‘manipulate games’ to boost ticket sales and TV ratings. He cited several examples, including this particular game.
Before Game 3 of the 2002 NBA Finals, Stern dismissed these allegations as ‘baseless’ and stated that Donaghy was the sole individual guilty of the crime, affirming that Tim would face consequences for his actions, regardless of his efforts to involve others.
That said, while fans hail Stern for his role in saving the NBA during a period when 40 to 75% of players were using drugs, there might be another side to the story.