This former referee and two-time NBA all-star Rasheed Wallace are no strangers to controversy in the NBA. Following a game on January 15, 2003, between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Memphis Grizzlies, the former NBA referee said that he had received threats from two-time all-star Rasheed Wallace.

The referee declared that if three security guards and Wallace’s teammate Brevin Knight weren’t there, he would have been assaulted. But what could have Rasheed Wallace so incensed as to be provoked to potentially physically attack this referee?

Was Wallace the one to blame?

Tim Donaghy, a former NBA referee, has revealed a heated and potentially deadly incident he had with former player Rasheed Wallace. The NBA has its story, Rasheed Wallace has his, and the reality is most likely somewhere in the middle. However, something transpired between Wallace and referee Tim Donaghy that resulted in Wallace being suspended by the NBA for seven games, his history undoubtedly influencing this incident.

Donaghy detailed the event while refereeing a game with fellow officials Steve Javie and Scott Wall in an interview with VladTV.

Scott Wall called a foul on the four-time All-Star during the third quarter, with 9:45 remaining on the clock. Wallace responded by tossing the ball back in Wall’s direction, despite the fact that the latter had his back turned. Donaghy, who caught sight of this, saw it as a deliberate throw at Wall and called a technical foul on the 6’10 power forward.

Donaghy claims, “Scott Wall called a foul on him that he didn’t like and as Scott Wall went to report it, he kind of threw the ball at his back and it hit his back and Scott didn’t know, you know, what had happened and I saw what happened.”

“I gave him a technical foul and you know, he didn’t like that and he was furious with me.”

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The three guards rescued Tim Donaghy

While NBA referees frequently face criticism for their odd foul call blunders, they are not immune to the fury of NBA titans. After the big game concluded, the NBA champion was waiting in the parking lot for Tim Donaghy.

Donaghy said, “I said something back to him along the lines, ‘You fu**in deserved it.’ Which was a big mistake because that kinda set him off, and he just came at me, wanted to fight me; if it wasn?t for 3 security guards and Brevin Knight pulling him back, he probably would?ve got to me.”?Wallace became enraged and wanted to hit the ref.

Donaghy highlighted his tough relationship with Wallace, which came from his previous troubles with many technical fouls. Rasheed was on fire in that game, with 38 points and 10 rebounds.

Tim Donaghy was eventually sentenced to prison, as a result of his betting on games that he had officiated.

Do you think Rasheed Wallace had fair reason to be irate, regarding Donaghy’s officiating? Let us know in the comments!

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