Jeremy Lin has unintentionally reignited one of the NBA's most controversial debates. During a recent podcast appearance, the former NBA guard shared a story from his playing days that left many fans stunned.
According to Lin, the coaching staff received a message from above telling them to bench him for the rest of the game. Another teammate who was also having a big night was pulled as well. The team eventually lost. The clip quickly went viral on X, and fans immediately began asking a serious question. Is the NBA rigged?
Jeremy Lin's story that sparked the debate
In the widely shared clip, Lin explained that he was in the middle of a strong performance. He was on pace for a solid stat line and felt confident about how the game was going. Then an assistant coach approached him with surprising news.
Lin recalled the moment clearly. The coach reportedly told him they had received a call from above and he was done for the night. Lin said he could not believe what he was hearing because the game was still competitive. Another player who had already scored around 25 points was also taken out.
At the time, their team was actually leading. Yet the players who were performing well never returned to the court.Eventually the lead disappeared and the team lost the game in overtime. For Lin, the moment stuck with him for years because it felt like the outcome of the game had been decided before the final buzzer.
Lin recalled the moment clearly. The coach reportedly told him they had received a call from above and he was done for the night. Lin said he could not believe what he was hearing because the game was still competitive. Another player who had already scored around 25 points was also taken out.
At the time, their team was actually leading. Yet the players who were performing well never returned to the court.Eventually the lead disappeared and the team lost the game in overtime. For Lin, the moment stuck with him for years because it felt like the outcome of the game had been decided before the final buzzer.
Fans believe the game Jeremy Lin described was from his Lakers season
Many fans believe Lin was referring to a game from the 2014 to 2015 season when he played for the Los Angeles Lakers.That season was extremely difficult for the franchise. The Lakers finished with one of the worst records in the league and were firmly in the draft lottery race. One specific matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves matches Lin's description closely. Lin had a productive night and finished with 19 points and five rebounds. However he was taken out early in the fourth quarter despite the Lakers holding a lead at one stage. He never returned to the floor even when the game went to overtime. The Lakers eventually lost. While Lin never directly named the game, fans and analysts believe this moment fits his story almost perfectly.
In reality, the "call from above" probably referred to the team's front office. In struggling seasons, some franchises quietly prioritise draft positioning over short term wins. Losing more games increases the chance of getting a higher draft pick.
What the "call from above" likely meant
The phrase Lin used sparked huge speculation online. Some people assumed it meant the NBA league office contacted the team during the game. That is very unlikely.In reality, the "call from above" probably referred to the team's front office. In struggling seasons, some franchises quietly prioritise draft positioning over short term wins. Losing more games increases the chance of getting a higher draft pick.
This practice is known as tanking. Teams rarely admit to it publicly, but many former players and executives have hinted at similar situations over the years. Lin described the experience as frustrating because players on the court were trying to win, while the organisation seemed focused on the future.
During those seasons the team prioritised young players, draft assets and long term planning instead of chasing wins. Because of criticism around tanking, the NBA eventually changed the draft lottery system in 2019. The league flattened the odds so the worst teams no longer have such a massive advantage. The goal was to reduce incentives for teams to lose intentionally. Even with those changes, the debate has never fully disappeared.
Tanking has been part of NBA history for years
Lin's story may sound shocking to casual fans, but the concept behind it is not new. Several teams have openly gone through rebuilding periods where losing games helped improve their draft position. The most famous example is the Philadelphia 76ers during the early 2010s under their rebuilding strategy known as "The Process".During those seasons the team prioritised young players, draft assets and long term planning instead of chasing wins. Because of criticism around tanking, the NBA eventually changed the draft lottery system in 2019. The league flattened the odds so the worst teams no longer have such a massive advantage. The goal was to reduce incentives for teams to lose intentionally. Even with those changes, the debate has never fully disappeared.
Once the podcast clip spread online, fans quickly began sharing their opinions. Some viewers believed Lin's story proved that games can be manipulated. One user on X said, "If players get pulled after a call from above while they are winning then how can fans trust the competition?" Another fan wrote, "Everyone knows tanking exists but hearing it happen mid game is crazy."
Others pushed back against the conspiracy angle. One user commented, "This is not the NBA fixing games. It is teams protecting draft odds. Bad teams do it every year." Another fan added, "People saying the league scripted it are missing the point. This is about front offices chasing draft picks."
When a struggling team sees a chance to secure a better draft pick, the temptation to prioritise future talent over a single win becomes very real. That does not mean the NBA itself is scripting outcomes or fixing games. Instead it reveals a flaw in the system where losing can sometimes become strategically valuable.
Others pushed back against the conspiracy angle. One user commented, "This is not the NBA fixing games. It is teams protecting draft odds. Bad teams do it every year." Another fan added, "People saying the league scripted it are missing the point. This is about front offices chasing draft picks."
Does Jeremy Lin's story prove the NBA is rigged?
Lin's experience highlights a real issue in professional sports. players compete every night to win games. Front offices, however, sometimes think about the long term future of the franchise. Those two priorities do not always match.When a struggling team sees a chance to secure a better draft pick, the temptation to prioritise future talent over a single win becomes very real. That does not mean the NBA itself is scripting outcomes or fixing games. Instead it reveals a flaw in the system where losing can sometimes become strategically valuable.
For players like Lin who are focused purely on competing, moments like that can feel like a betrayal. And for fans watching from home, it raises uncomfortable questions about whether every team on the court is truly trying to win.