Shaquille O’Neal said he is “ashamed” of the coach and players accused in a sweeping gambling and betting scandal tied to the NBA. The comments came during his appearance on Inside the NBA as prosecutors unsealed indictments against more than 30 individuals, including coach Chauncey Billups and player Terry Rozier.
“I’m ashamed that those guys would put their families and their careers in jeopardy,” O’Neal said. “We all know the letter of the law when it comes to gambling and sports gambling.” He added, “All money ain’t good money … So if you’re making $9 million, like, how much more do you need?” O’Neal emphasized the risk-laden nature of the alleged actions: “Especially if you know you get caught, you could do jail time, lose your career, put a bad image on yourself, your family or on the NBA.”
Allegations, Investigation, and Fallout
Federal prosecutors announced two major indictments that cover illegal sports betting and a racketeering-style poker scheme with ties to organized crime. Billups, Rozier and former player-coach Damon Jones were among the defendants. Billups is accused of participating in a nationwide rigged poker ring supported by Mafia families; Rozier is charged with providing insider information to bettors.
Detailing the alleged poker operation, authorities say it used high-tech cheating methods such as rigged shuffling machines, X-ray enabled card tables, specialized contact lenses and sunglasses to read hidden card backs. The alleged scheme spanned multiple states and leveraged professional athletes and coaches. In response, the NBA has placed Billups and Rozier on immediate leave pending its internal review.
O’Neal, a 19-year NBA veteran and Hall of Famer, did not mince words. He underscored that even though he has gambled himself — “Every now and then, when I go to Vegas, I’ll play some craps and roulette” — he drew a clear personal line. “But I never gambled at anyone’s house. Don’t know anything about poker.” He also pointed out he knows Billups and Jones “very well” and called their alleged conduct especially disappointing: “I’m ashamed that those guys would put their families and their careers in jeopardy.”
“All these guys knew what was at stake,” he said. “And I’m just ashamed that they put themselves and put their family and put the NBA in this position.” On-air colleague Charles Barkley added that the actions appeared to stem from “total stupidity” rather than addiction.
The indictments mark one of the most significant corruption cases in recent professional sports history. Prosecutors say the gambling ring involved both rigged casino-style games and sports-betting conspiracies exploiting inside NBA information. As legal proceedings unfold, O’Neal’s remarks put pressure on league officials to show that such alleged breaches of trust will not be tolerated. He concluded: “They dropped the ball.”
The next steps include court appearances by the defendants, an internal NBA investigation, and possible policy changes around gambling education and oversight.