‘These dudes are stupid’: Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal weigh in on NBA gambling scandal
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- This week federal prosecutors charged Portland coach Chauncey Billups, Miami guard Terry Rozier and retired player Damon Jones with rigging card games and sports betting schemes.
- Shaquille O’Neal expressed shame, questioning why wealthy athletes would risk careers and freedom when they were already earning millions annually.
- Charles Barkley dismissed addiction arguments, calling the scheme “total stupidity” and criticizing players for attempting to fix basketball games for profit.
Shaquille O’Neal said he’s “ashamed” of the people involved in the gambling scandal that rocked the NBA on Thursday.
Charles Barkley called two of the individuals involved in the matter “stupid.”
Kenny Smith said the situation is “super unfortunate.”
One day after the “Inside the NBA” crew made its ESPN debut, the three analysts, as well as host Ernie Johnson, had a huge story to discuss that had little to do with the actual game of basketball.
Wild allegations filed this week by federal prosecutors in one of the most sweeping and sensational betting scandals in recent professional sports history.
On Thursday morning, federal prosecutors unsealed two indictments that outlined separate schemes to rig sports bets and poker games. More than 30 people were arrested, including former Clippers player and current Portland head coach Chauncey Billups, who was charged with participating in a conspiracy to fix high-stakes card games run by Mafia families.
Also arrested were Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, who is accused of being part of a scheme to provide private insider NBA information to help others profit from online bets, and retired player Damon Jones, who has been charged with taking part in both schemes.
“All these guys knew what was at stake, and I’m just ashamed that they put themselves and put their family and put the NBA in this position,” O’Neal said during Thursday’s broadcast. “We all know the rules. We all know the letter of the law. And it’s just unfortunate — you know, innocent till proven guilty, but usually when the FBI has something, they have you.”
He added: “I know Chauncey. I know Damon very well, played with Damon. ... I’m ashamed that those guys will put their families and their careers in jeopardy. There’s an old saying in the hood, all money ain’t good money. So if you’re making $9 million, like, how much more do you need? Especially if you know you get caught, you can do jail time, lose your career, put a bad image on yourself or your family or on the NBA.”
Smith pointed out that “gambling is an addiction which could make you make illogical decisions,” but Barkley interjected his opinion that addiction had nothing to do with the decision Jones and Rozier made to help others make fraudulent bets.
Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal and Ernie Johnson premiered on ESPN ahead of a doubleheader Wednesday with laughs, jabs and basketball analysis.
“This ain’t got nothing to do with addiction. These dudes are stupid,” Barkley said. “Why are they stupid? You under no circumstances can you fix basketball games. Under no circumstances. ... Like, Rozier makes $26 million. Him betting, giving people information or taking himself out of games — how much is he going to benefit taking himself out the game to get unders?”
Barkley added: “You can’t fix ball games. Like I said, this is separate from Chauncey, but the notion that guys are making all this money and giving information — come on, man, stop that. That got nothing to do with addiction. That’s just total stupidity on these two dudes parts.”
Billups — a five-time All-Star who was the 2004 NBA Finals MVP as a member of the Detroit Pistons and is in his fifth season as Portland’s coach — and 10-year NBA veteran Rozier were placed on immediate leave, the league announced Thursday.
Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Heat guard Terry Rozier are among more than 30 people charged in illegal betting schemes linked to the Mafia.
Billups’ attorney issued a statement Thursday night strongly denying the allegations against his client.
“Anyone who knows Chauncey Billups knows he is a man of integrity,” attorney Chris Heywood said. “Men of integrity do not cheat and defraud others.”
Rozier’s attorney said in a statement Thursday that his client will fight the allegations.
“Terry is not a gambler, but he is not afraid of a fight,” Jim Trusty said, “and he looks forward to winning this fight.”
Jones played three seasons with LeBron James on the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2005 to 2008 and was an assistant coach during the Lakers star‘s second stint in Cleveland. In one of the indictments, prosecutors allege Jones was an unofficial coach with the Lakers from 2022 to 2023 when he used inside information for sports betting.
