Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal didn't hold back when the topic turned to the NBA's gambling scandal Thursday night on Inside the NBA.
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The Hall of Famers reacted to the news that multiple figures around the league — including Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier, and Damon Jones — were arrested as part of a massive FBI investigation into illegal betting and rigged poker games allegedly tied to organized crime.
Kenny Smith opened the segment by saying gambling addiction can lead people to make "illogical decisions." Barkley quickly pushed back.
"Man, this ain't got nothing to do with damn gambling addiction," Barkley said. "These dudes are stupid. Under no circumstances can you fix basketball games. I love to gamble, but Rozier makes $26 million a year. How much could he possibly make taking himself out of games for unders? That's just dumb."
Shaq agreed, adding that he knows both Billups and Jones personally — and that the whole thing left him "ashamed."
"I know Chauncey. I know Damon very well and I played with Damon," O'Neal said. "There's an old saying in the hood — all money ain't good money. If you're making millions, how much more do you need? You can lose everything. Your career, your family, your reputation."
Both legends pointed out that the NBA spends plenty of time educating players about gambling rules and consequences. Rozier and Jones clearly thought they'd never get caught. They were wrong.
"I'm ashamed that those guys would put their families and their careers in jeopardy."@SHAQ reacts to the arrest of Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier and Damon Jones in a sports gambling investigation. pic.twitter.com/J8XtbpMqKI
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 23, 2025
