During the recent episode of Inside the NBA, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal shared their candid thoughts on the ongoing NBA betting scandal. It was clear that both Hall of Famers were not afraid to speak their minds.
This Thursday morning, the FBI launched an operation that resulted in multiple arrests connected to illegal gambling operations involving the NBA. Notably, Chauncey Billups, coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, is accused of being caught up in rigged high-stakes poker games linked to organized crime. Additionally, Miami Heat’s Terry Rozier was arrested for allegedly participating in conspiracy by gambling on inside, unpublished info about NBA teams and players from December 2022 to December 2024. Former Cleveland Cavaliers star Damon Jones is also facing charges in relation to both situations.
Responses from the Inside the NBA Crew
As the discussions unfolded on ESPN’s coverage of the game between the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors, Kenny Smith highlighted the issue of gambling addiction and how it leads to poor decision-making. In a sharp twist, Barkley criticized this perspective, calling out Rozier, Jones, and anyone else implicated in the scandal as simply “stupid”.
“This isn’t about gambling addiction. It’s about being plain dumb,” Barkley expressed passionately. “You can never fix a basketball game. I mean, I love to gamble—Rozier earns a whopping $26 million a year. So, what could he possibly gain by affecting a game? Nothing!”
Shaquille O’Neal chimed in, echoing Barkley’s views. He expressed disappointment over Billups and Jones, whom he knows personally, stating how humiliated he feels for them.
“I have a good relationship with Chauncey and Damon. Seeing them risk their families and careers makes me feel ashamed,” O’Neal said. “An old saying comes to mind: ‘All money isn’t good money.’ If you’re already earning $9 million, why engage in illegal activities?”
Barkley, known for his love of gambling, indicated that while gambling addiction might be real, it can’t justify fixing game outcomes—a serious charge against Rozier. Similarly, Jones is alleged to have profited illegally by leveraging confidential info, including insights about LeBron James.
As Shaquille remarked, the NBA has systems in place to educate players about the perils of gambling. Clearly, Rozier and Jones were overconfident, thinking they could evade scrutiny.
