Former Sacramento Kings point guard Mike Bibby believes the controversial 2002 Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers was rigged, saying the outcome may have altered the trajectory of his NBA career.
Appearing on the Nightcap show, Bibby was asked directly whether he thought the seven-game playoff series had been manipulated.
“Hell yeah you seen that sh*t,” Bibby responded.
The former NBA guard then reflected on what winning that series could have meant for his legacy.
“Man, look that could have change my whole career, you know? I was rolling at that point. Now what if now, what it looks like if we go to the finals, I get Finals MVP? That’s going to look a whole lot better on my resume than the sh*t I got now.”
Bibby’s comments revisit one of the most debated playoff series in NBA history. The 2002 Western Conference Finals featured the top-seeded Kings against the defending champion Lakers, who were led by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
Sacramento took a 3-2 series lead before the Lakers forced a Game 7 with a controversial 106-102 victory in Game 6 at Staples Center. That game has remained the focal point of criticism for more than two decades because of several disputed officiating decisions, particularly in the fourth quarter.
The Lakers attempted 40 free throws in Game 6 compared to 25 for Sacramento, including 27 free-throw attempts in the final period. Los Angeles went on to win Game 7 in overtime, 112-106, before defeating the New Jersey Nets in four games to capture its third consecutive NBA championship.
Bibby was at the center of one of the series’ most memorable moments. Late in Game 6, he was called for a foul after Bryant’s elbow struck him in the face while the two battled for position, a decision that has continued to generate debate among fans and analysts.
At the time of the series, Bibby had established himself as one of the league’s top point guards after arriving in Sacramento in a 2001 trade from the Vancouver Grizzlies. During the 2001-02 season, he averaged 14.4 points and 5.0 assists while helping the Kings finish with an NBA-best 61-21 record.
In the 2002 playoffs, Bibby elevated his production to 20.3 points and 5.0 assists per game while shooting 49.3% from the field. He also delivered several clutch performances throughout Sacramento’s postseason run, including multiple game-winning shots.
The Kings’ roster featured Chris Webber, Peja Stojakovic, Vlade Divac, Doug Christie and Bobby Jackson, and many observers regarded the team as one of the deepest and most entertaining groups of its era. Despite winning 61 games, Sacramento never reached the NBA Finals.
Questions surrounding the 2002 series have persisted over the years, fueled in part by former referee Tim Donaghy’s later claims about officiating practices within the league. However, the NBA has consistently maintained there is no evidence that the Western Conference Finals were fixed, and the official result of the series has never been challenged.
More than 24 years later, Bibby remains convinced that the outcome of the series changed not only the Kings’ championship hopes, but also the way his own career is remembered.
