Former New York Knicks star Jeremy Lin has sparked controversy by claiming the NBA manipulated games during his career, and his remarks are renewing debates over fairness and league transparency, highlighting tension between players and officials.
Lin, who became a global sensation during the Linsanity era, described a game in which he was benched despite a dominant performance through three quarters.
He revealed the decision appeared to come from league management rather than coaching strategy.
“I had 20 and 10 after three quarters,” Lin said on the Above The Rim podcast. “We were up about 15 to 18 [points], and in the fourth quarter and overtime. I didn’t play one second.
Nikola Jokic gets up from his chair to recognize one of the best centers of all time
“He goes ‘Yeah, we got the call from above and you’re done for tonight.'”
While Lin did not name the team involved, his story suggests a top-down intervention that overrode his coach’s judgment.
He implied that the NBA prioritized other factors over his performance, causing frustration for the player and fans alike.
Over his career, he played for eight NBA teams, and although his peak came with the Knicks, he continued professionally overseas in China, gaining additional experience and maintaining his reputation as a skilled guard, even after leaving the league.
His allegations show the challenges athletes face in high-stakes environments, where personal achievement may clash with league interests, and fans and analysts are left questioning the integrity of certain decisions that affect game outcomes.
Knicks crush Nikola Jokic’s Denver Nuggets
Meanwhile, the Knicks‘ current roster showed its dominance with a 142-103 blowout over the Denver Nuggets.
OG Anunoby led with 34 points, while Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns added 18 and 19 points, respectively, with Towns securing 17 rebounds.
Denver‘s struggles were compounded by the loss of All-Star point guard Jamal Murray to a sprained ankle, just as the team had its starting lineup back together.
Murray left the court with 12 points in the first half and did not return. Aaron Gordon returned from a hamstring injury and Cam Johnson from a sprained ankle.
But the Nuggets missed 17 consecutive 3-pointers during the game, allowing the Knicks to build a 105-80 lead by the end of the third quarter.
Nikola Jokic scored 38 points for Denver, but the team suffered its largest defeat of the season and tied a record 39-point home loss previously set in 1998.
Knicks coach Mike Brown‘s halftime challenge on an Anunoby charge proved successful, extending New York‘s lead.
The Knicks now head to Los Angeles to face the Lakers on Sunday, carrying momentum from a rare, decisive win to take on LeBron James and Luka Doncic on March 8.
