Maybe Tim Donaghy wasn’t “an isolated, rogue criminal” after all.

Amidst allegations that the former referee could be naming other officials who violated the NBA’s policy by gambling, commissioner David Stern named Lawrence Pedowitz, a former Chief of the Criminal Division in the United State’s Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, to review the league’s policies relating to gambling and officiating.

“There is nothing as important as the integrity of our game and the

covenant we have with our fans,” Stern said.

What’s a bit amazing is that it’s gotten to this point. While Donaghy was an extreme case, it’s not too farfetched to believe that other referees gamble occasionally, even if they don’t bet on games.

Any gambling, however, and the problems that accompany it, is too much for a league whose games must be above suspicion, and whose outcomes often ride on an official’s call or non-call.

Stern thought he and the league had this covered, but in light of Donaghy’s actions, he’s decided more scrutiny is needed, and who can blame him.

While there was much hand-wringing when the Donaghy story broke, the damage to the league was minimal as long as it was one person. If it turns out that there are more violating the gambling policy, even on a much less serious level, the league could have a much more serious problem on its hands.