Charles Barkley didn’t mince his phrases on Contained in the NBA when addressing the Mafia-linked sports activities betting scandal that has rocked the league and implicated a number of high-profile figures.
With 34 individuals indicted—together with Terry Rozier, Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones—Barkley delivered a blunt message in regards to the alleged corruption.
“These dudes are silly,” Barkley stated. “Why are they silly? You, by no means are you able to repair basketball video games. Underneath, by no means.”
The Corridor of Famer’s frustration stems from allegations that Rozier, a guard for the Miami Warmth, left a February 2023 recreation early to assist associates revenue over $200,000 from a prop wager tied to his efficiency. Rozier reportedly earns $26 million a yr.
“I like to gamble,” Barkley continued. “The notion, like, Rozier makes $26 million. Him betting, giving individuals info, or taking himself out of video games. How a lot is he going to profit taking himself out of the sport to get unders? Like, he’s making $26 million.”
The federal indictment, unsealed October 23, 2025, accuses Rozier of utilizing inside info to control betting outcomes.
Prosecutors say he deliberately exited video games to fulfill betting situations, whereas others allegedly used confidential knowledge to put bets on at the very least seven NBA video games between February 2023 and March 2024.
The investigation, led by the FBI and NYPD, began in 2023 and has since expanded to incorporate rigged poker video games involving Mafia households just like the Gambino, Genovese and Bonanno organizations.
Authorities declare Billups and Jones labored with these teams to repair high-stakes poker video games utilizing altered shuffling machines, marked playing cards and even X-ray tables. The schemes reportedly cheated gamers out of roughly $7 million.
Each Rozier and Billups have been positioned on go away following their arrests. All events have denied wrongdoing.
Shaquille O’Neal, Barkley’s co-host on Contained in the NBA, echoed the frustration, pointing to the necessary league briefings gamers obtain on playing guidelines.
“Yearly they’d give us boards on what and what to not do,” O’Neal stated. “So all these guys knew what was at stake. And I’m simply ashamed that they put themselves and put their household and put the NBA on this place.”
He added, “Everyone knows the principles, everyone knows the letter of the legislation, and it’s simply unlucky. You already know, harmless till confirmed responsible. However normally when the FBI has one thing, they have you ever.”
The indictment additionally describes how NBA figures have been used as “face playing cards” to draw rich poker gamers to luxurious places in Las Vegas, Miami, Manhattan and the Hamptons.
As soon as there, victims have been allegedly cheated utilizing hidden tech and pressured for money owed by means of threats and intimidation.
The timing of the scandal couldn’t be worse for the NBA, which is finalizing a large 11-year, $76 billion broadcast deal. The league is now bracing for potential monetary fallout and reputational injury.
Congress has since requested a briefing from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, elevating questions in regards to the league’s oversight of playing exercise and its partnerships with betting firms.
“There’s nothing extra essential to the league and its followers than the integrity of the competitors,” Silver stated throughout an interview at halftime of the Boston Celtics-New York Knicks recreation. “And so I had a pit in my abdomen. It was very upsetting.”
Authorized consultants warn this will likely solely be the start. Some former officers consider the scope of the scandal might widen as extra proof surfaces.
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