NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
The biggest story in sports, let alone the NBA, was the FBI gambling investigation announced Thursday that involved the arrests of Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA guard Damon Jones, among many others.
During ESPN’s “Inside The NBA,” the panel of Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley discussed the situation, but it resulted in a somewhat heated back and forth between Smith and Barkley.
Smith began with his long view of the situation.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups leaves the Mark O. Hatfield US Courthouse following a hearing following his arrest on federal gambling charges in Portland, Oregon, US on October 23, 2025. (REUTERS/John Rudoff)
“We look at players that are involved and people that are involved, we’re surprised when you have access and you’re at the top of the game, so to speak as a coach or player or whatever at the top of the game, you have access to millions of dollars in this league. So it was surprising that they put themselves in that position possibly. Innocent until proven guilty,” he said.
Smith’s next point is what ticked off Barkley, who was visibly frustrated at the desk.
“I think the other part is you have to realize that gambling is an addiction, so the addiction to it is what makes you make illogical decisions,” Smith continued. “… the FBI director [Kash Patel] said there is a man who has lost 1.8 million dollars. This means that he has a lot of money, so he has an addiction to it. The ‘fish’ they talked about bringing in. So gambling is an addiction that can make you make illogical decisions regardless of your ethnic background, regardless of your physical background, regardless of your financial status. So let’s understand it.
OREGON SEN. RON WYDEN REACTS TO FBI PROBE INVOLVING TRAIL BLAZERS COACH CHAUNCEY BILLUPS: ‘VERY SAD DAY’
“I disagree with the NBA dropping the ball. This is an ongoing investigation. There’s no way that any FBI, or police at all, that anybody would say, ‘Hey, this is what we’re doing.’ The element of surprise always makes it happen so they can’t overextend the information they receive.
When Smith told Barkley he was going to let him talk when he made his final point, Barkley couldn’t hold back.
“I wish you would because you’re pissing me off right here,” Barkley said.
“I also think that just because there are people who get speeding tickets, it doesn’t mean that everyone in the league is speeding. So don’t look at this group of people that started being investigated as the entire league,” Smith concluded.
Kenny Smith, watches before the game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Los Angeles Lakers as part of the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament on December 7, 2023 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images)
Then it was Barkley’s turn to speak.
“First of all, they’re two different things,” he began. “Take Chauncey out of the equation, and the reason I’m mad at Kenny is because this has nothing to do with a goddamn gambling addiction. This has nothing to do with addiction. These guys are stupid. You can’t fix basketball games under any circumstances. Under no circumstances. I love to play. Rozier makes $26 million on information for himself or however much he takes from information or how much he himself takes out of play. of games to hit unders? earning $26 million.”
Smith chimed in when he said Barkley proved his point.
“If you’re making $26 million to try for $50,000, it’s illogical,” Smith said.
Barkley fired back, reiterating his belief that those involved were not gambling addicts, but rather “it’s stupidity.”
“The notion that guys are making all this money and giving information, stop it. It has nothing to do with addiction. It’s total stupidity on the part of those two,” Barkley said.
O’Neal made his bid ahead of the Smith and Barkley debate. He said the league provided forums to inform players about the dangers of gambling.
“All these guys knew what was at stake and I’m just ashamed that they put themselves, put their family and put the NBA in this position,” O’Neal said. “You all know the rules, we all know the letter of the law, and it’s just unfortunate. Innocent until proven guilty, but usually when the FBI has something, they have you.”
College basketball analyst Charles Barkley on air before the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Final Four championship game. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Billups, a Basketball Hall of Famer like the men on the panel, left an Oregon federal courthouse Thursday where he did not answer questions after being arrested as part of the FBI investigation. Billups was charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering when he was allegedly involved in the investigation of fake poker games.
Billups was released from custody under the conditions of surrendering his passport, not contacting any of the more than 30 co-defendants, and not engaging in any gambling activity.
Rozier was allegedly involved in sports gambling, where schedulers allegedly provided non-public information about who would face future games or when they would pull out early due to injury or illness.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Rozier faked an injury to leave a March 23, 2023 game between the Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans. Rozier allegedly told co-defendant Deniro Laster that he was going to take himself out of the game so Laster could gamble on it.
The NBA cooperated with the investigation and placed Billups and Rozier on immediate leave.
