Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley didn’t see eye to eye while discussing the playing scandal that rocked the NBA on Thursday.
During “Inside the NBA” before Thursday evening’s video games, host Ernie Johnson requested the crew to weigh in on the matter after the FBI arrested Heat guard Terry Rozier, Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and former NBA participant Damon Jones as half of a federal probe into unlawful playing and rigged poker video games.
Smith, who emphasised that playing is an dependancy, defined that it is an illogical choice of a participant to jeopardize thousands and thousands of {dollars} to make considerably less on a guess — while Barkley disagreed and chalked it up to stupidity.
Rozier is alleged to have facilitated bets on his own stat traces when he knew he was going to pull himself from the recreation early.
Kenny Smith on the NBA betting scandal: “We have to realize gambling is an addiction. The addiction of it is what makes you make illogical decisions…”
Charles Barkley: “That’s not addiction. That’s stupidity… You can’t fix basketball games… That’s just total… pic.twitter.com/0z27urhGw1
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 23, 2025
“We’re surprised because when you have access, and you’re at the top of the game, so to speak, as a coach and professional player or whatever, you’re at the top of your game, you have access to millions and millions of dollars in this league,” Smith said. “So, it was shocking that they would put themselves in that place, presumably. And then it’s harmless until confirmed responsible.
“We have to realize gambling is an addiction. The addiction of it is what makes you make illogical decisions … gambling is an addiction which can make you make illogical decisions regardless of your ethnic background, regardless of your physical background, and regardless of your financial status. So, let’s understand that.”
Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley didn’t see eye to eye while discussing the playing scandal that rocked the NBA on Thursday, October 24, 2025. X
Charles Barkley blamed the NBA playing scandal on stupidity during “Inside the NBA” on Thursday, October 24, 2025. X
Barkley didn’t see it that method.
“The reason I’m mad at Kenny is this ain’t got nothing to do with damn gambling addiction, this ain’t got nothing to do with addiction,” Barkley said. “These dudes are silly.
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) brings the ball up courtroom during the second half of an NBA basketball recreation against the Washington Wizards in Washington, Monday, March 31, 2025. AP
“Under no circumstances can you fix basketball games. Under no circumstances. I love to gamble, the notion, Rozier makes $26 million. Him betting, giving people information or taking yourself out of games, how much is he going to benefit taking himself out of the game to get Unders? He’s making $26 million.”
Smith fired back saying, “You’re proving my point. That’s an illogical thought process. If you’re making $26 million to win $50,000. That’s illogical. So, you’re proving my point. It’s addiction.”
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups leaves a federal courtroom after his look on Thursday, October 23, 2025, in Portland, Ore. AP
Barkley had to get last phrase in, including, “That’s not addiction, that’s stupidity.”
Shaquille O’Neal chimed in as nicely, saying he was disillusioned to see Rozier and Billups, as nicely as Jones — who is accused of promoting info regarding gamers on the Lakers who would not be current to play, particularly LeBron James — for placing the NBA and their households in a dangerous spot.
Former NBA participant and assistant coach Damon Jones, left, leaves Lloyd George U.S. Courthouse Thursday, October 23, 2025 in Las Vegas. AP
Follow The Post’s newest on the playing scandal rocking the NBA:
The FBI has arrested 31 folks concerned in a rigged poker recreation ring backed by the New York City organized crime households.
Billups is said to be the face of rigged poker recreations allegedly backed by the Mafia that defrauded victims $7 million.
Rozier accused of rigging video games by informing bettors of info before video games, particularly when he deliberate to pull himself out of a March 2023 contest with a foot damage.
He did exit that recreation with an damage and bettors allegedly profited on the info.
Billups and Rozier’s arrest are half of two separate FBI probes into unlawful playing, respectively, Operation Royal Flush and Operation Nothing But Bet.
Source hyperlink
