NBA: *** 2025-26 NBA Thread ***

[Kinch]

FBI said the level of fraud in this case was in the tens of millions of dollars. The NBA survives, but this is a major hit to them, IMHO.

 

[simply1]

This old reddit thread and podcast transcript is something

 

[Kinch]

Billups is looking some major hard time.

 

[SolterraCyclone]

The FBI said the Billups case and Rozier case were “separate but related”. Rozier’s involved sports betting while Billups’ is an illegal poker game.

The poker game, at its surface, doesn’t seem like a big deal to me, but if the mafia is involved who knows what other stuff was going on. Reminds me of the great movie Molly’s Game.

Ok disregard what I said about the poker game. For some reason I was assuming he was a player in the game. Now that I see he was involved in the operation of the game, and the fraudulent nature of the game, he is definitely facing some jail time.

 

[Kinch]

One victim was extorted over $1.8 million in poker games with Billups.

 

[Peter]

We'll see what details come out, but on the surface, I never understand why players get involved in gambling. You are already making millions, and why would you jeopardize that for some extra cash?

 

[JM4CY]

story of @JM4CY 's college life.

Don't judge the hustle bruh

 

[ClonerJams]

We'll see what details come out, but on the surface, I never understand why players get involved in gambling. You are already making millions, and why would you jeopardize that for some extra cash?

Addiction

 

[3TrueFans]

We'll see what details come out, but on the surface, I never understand why players get involved in gambling. You are already making millions, and why would you jeopardize that for some extra cash?

Never fails that people that have a lot of money just want a **** load of money, also it was probably thrilling and exciting to steal it from people.

 

[Kinch]

 

[CHim]

We'll see what details come out, but on the surface, I never understand why players get involved in gambling. You are already making millions, and why would you jeopardize that for some extra cash?

I wonder if it starts from the desire for competition. The Last Dance showed Jordan would compete over absolutely anything with anyone. He even got into gambling when it was not welcomed like today. So take that the next step from chasing competition to having to win and you end up cheating. Gambling on cards for large sums can be more available than sports betting, makes sense that people would chase that avenue.

Or he could just be chasing what he thought was easy money and he is a crook but famous.

 

[JP4CY]

We'll see what details come out, but on the surface, I never understand why players get involved in gambling. You are already making millions, and why would you jeopardize that for some extra cash?

Probably an addiction. Look at Phil Mickelson.

 

[ClonerJams]

 

[Kinch]

LeBron James dragged into NBA gambling scandal after friend sold injury details: feds

Details of LeBron James’ injury status were sold by his pal and former Los Angeles Lakers coach Damon Jones as part of a massive prop betting scheme, according to court docs and law enforceme…

nypost.com

 

[Kinch]

This is a huge deal for the NBA. We are talking about several games, multiple players. Here is the press release from the DOJ

Current and Former National Basketball Association Players and Four Other Individuals Charged in Widespread Sports Betting and Money Laundering Conspiracy

Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging six defendants — Eric Earnest, also known as “Spook,” Marves Fairley, also known as “Vez,” “Vezino,” and “Vezino Locks”, Shane Hennen, also known as “Sugar,” Damon Jones, also known as “D Jones,” and “Dee...

www.justice.gov

 

[madguy30]

We'll see what details come out, but on the surface, I never understand why players get involved in gambling. You are already making millions, and why would you jeopardize that for some extra cash?

Maybe it's kicking one addiction and landing at that one.

 

[madguy30]

Maybe the regular season games will be more intense as a result...if you're caught lacking on that January Tuesday night in Sacramento people will start to ask questions.

 

[Kinch]

Quote of the day from Roziers lawyer. The feds wanted a high bond of $10 million. Roziers lawyer said he wasn’t a flight risk. “He’s a man of high character.”

 

[ClonerJams]

 

[FerShizzle]

Wemby in freak mode tonight.

Ya. I don’t know how the league deals with him night in and night out. Only a matter of time until he is the best player in the league by a large margin. He may already be the best player by a narrow margin.