Netflix To Release Documentary On Ex-NBA Ref Tim Donaghy

Netflix is putting together a documentary on disgraced former NBA referee Tim Donaghy, who officiated in the league from 1994-2007 until he was caught gambling.

News of the documentary comes from the New York Daily News’ Stefan Bondy, who added that Donaghy will be involved in the project.

Donaghy, 55, resigned from the NBA on July 9, 2007 after reports that he was being investigated by the FBI for betting on games in which he officiated. A month later, he pleaded guilty to two federal charges related to the investigation and was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison a year later. He served 11 of those months.

Later, Donaghy and his attorneys alleged that Game 6 of the Western Conference finals between the Lakers and Kings had been fixed in the Lakers’ favor. A letter from his attorneys stated that Donaghy “learned from Referee A that Referees A and F wanted to extend the series to seven games. Tim knew Referees A and F to be ‘company men,’ always acting in the interest of the NBA, and that night, it was in the NBA’s interest to add another game to the series.”

Late former commissioner David Stern denied the allegations and ensuing investigation from federal authorities found nothing to support Donaghy’s claims.

As a result of the incident, Stern revised behavior guidelines for referees at the 2007 Board of Governors meeting. Those guidelines remain in place today.

Donaghy has since worked as a “crooked official” in professional wrestling.