NBA Insider with Ken Berger

The most interesting aspect of David Stern’s news conference was also the most scary.

While Stern made it clear that based on information he received from federal investigators and is permitted to discuss, the FBI gambling probe is focused on only one referee, Tim Donaghy.

But he left the door open to a far more damaging possibility – that other refs could be implicated.

Stern called Donaghy a “rogue, isolated criminal,” but added, “Let me make it clear that’s my current understanding.” When pressed on the matter later in his hour-long briefing, Stern said, “If that understanding changes tomorrow, I will so inform everybody.”

Translation: Federal investigators have told Stern essentially what they’ve told our reporters working the case. That Donaghy, 40, a 13-year NBA veteran, is the only official currently believed to have gambled on games and provided information to gamblers.

But federal authorities led by Eastern District prosecutors in Brooklyn are examining all possibilities, including the idea that Donaghy could bring more people down with him. No one will know until the investigation is concluded, which is why Stern – obviously shaken and lacking his typical combativeness in the face of scandal – was unwilling to say just yet that his battered league will be able to avoid a wide-ranging scandal.

“This proves that I can’t be sure of anything,” Stern said.

You can read my first story on the Stern news conference here, but a few other things stood out during the somber briefing in the inappropriately named for the occasion “majestic ballroom” of the Westin hotel at 43rd and 8th this morning:

· Warren Levinson of The Associated Press asked perhaps the best question. I’m paraphrasing here, but Levinson essentially asked Stern: “Donaghy hasn’t been convicted or even charged, so what evidence do you have that he bet on games?” Stern thought for a few seconds and said that Donaghy’s attorney, John Lauro, informed him that the ref is contemplating a plea in the case.

· Chris Sheridan of ESPN.com stopped Stern in his tracks when he asked him if the Nevada Gaming Commission had ever alerted him to any possible betting improprieties with respect to NBA games. Stern tried to avoid the question, but eventually said quite vaguely that the behavior of a timing official had been questioned “20 years ago” in a game that had been taken off the betting line. He didn’t give any specifics.

· Chris Broussard of ESPN The Magazine forced Stern to be more specific about Donaghy’s alleged activities, at which point Stern removed any qualifiers and stated as follows: “It is my understanding that amongst the allegations are that he bet on games which he officiated and possibly which he did not officiate, and that he gave information to others for the purpose of allowing them to place bets on games that he was officiating and games that he was not officiating.”

· A Wall Street Journal reporter whose name escapes me asked Stern if he’d consider raising the referees’ salaries so as to reduce their chances of getting involved in illegal money-making activities. Stern then revealed that Donaghy’s salary last season was $260,000.

· I thought I asked one of the most important questions (if I do say so myself). Stern had made it clear that his current understanding is that the allegations are limited to one referee. I asked him if he’s just as confident that no player, team, or league official is under investigation or suspicion. He said, “I know of no such suspicion.”

· I had another question but didn’t get called on to ask it. Stern made a point of saying that the NBA has consultants in Las Vegas, where sports betting is legal, who report any funny business going on with betting on NBA games. Such funny business could include large amounts of money coming in on a particular team for a particular game. But does the NBA also monitor the illegal sports betting world in the same way? It should, because the gambling that Donaghy is alleged to have been linked with – like most sports betting in the country – was illegal gambling not located in Nevada.