Shaquille O’Neal expressed disappointment Thursday night over the NBA betting scandal, saying he felt “ashamed” for the players and coaches implicated in the FBI’s arrests.
Among the 34 people charged were Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, and retired player Damon Jones, along with 13 alleged Mafia members. FBI Director Kash Patel called the case a “mind-boggling insider trading saga for the NBA,” involving both sports betting and rigged poker games.
On Inside the NBA, Shaq said, “All these guys knew what was at stake. I’m ashamed they put themselves, their families, and the league in this position. When the FBI comes for you, they usually have something.”
He admitted to casual gambling in Vegas but condemned the accused for risking everything: “All money ain’t good money. If you’re making millions, why risk your freedom, career, and family?”
The FBI said the two operations — one focused on insider betting and the other on tech-rigged poker — brought in tens of millions through fraud, money laundering, and illegal gambling. The probe began after suspicious bets were placed on Rozier’s stats during a 2023 Hornets game. Billups’ arrest is tied to the Mafia-connected poker ring.
Both Rozier and Billups have been placed on immediate leave by the NBA and appeared in federal court Thursday. Their lawyers denied wrongdoing, calling the accusations baseless and inconsistent with their clients’ character.
In a statement, the NBA said it is reviewing the indictments and cooperating with authorities, adding: “We take these allegations seriously, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority.”
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