The sports betting boom has changed the way fans interact with the game – and the players. Now, with apps tracking every point, rebound, and assist, some fans are taking their losses personally. And NBA stars are increasingly on the receiving end of that frustration.
Just ask Jaylen Brown.
The Celtics forward made headlines this week after a blunt and explicit message to gamblers who’ve been flooding his DMs with hate whenever a bet doesn’t hit. Speaking on the “Million Dollaz Worth of Game” podcast, Brown didn’t hold back.
“If I do happen to scroll, the comments be like, ‘f-k you, n–r’… ‘If I see you in the street,'” Brown said.“If one of you parlay motherf-kers runs up on me, I’m going to f-k you up. Try it if you want to.”
Brown’s comments come as more players speak out about the toxic side effects of legalized sports betting – especially as it relates to prop bets. Unlike team outcomes, prop bets tie directly to individual performance, making players the target when things go south.
Athletes are over it: Betting culture Is crossing the line
Earlier this year, Kevin Durant went back and forth with an angry bettor on social media, calling out the strange entitlement fans now feel. College stars like North Carolina’s Armando Bacot have also dealt with this firsthand. Bacot revealed he once received over 100 DMs after falling short of a rebounds prop, even though he felt he played well.
“It’s definitely a little out of hand,”Bacot told reporters last year.“I get it – people lose money. But it’s annoying.”
The NBA has had to step in on more serious issues. Jontay Porter was banned for life last week after an investigation revealed he manipulated his own stats to benefit gamblers, per ESPN. While that’s an extreme case, the increased pressure on players at all levels is very real.
And Brown, who’s currently leading a Celtics team with championship ambitions, has made it clear: he’s not tolerating disrespect – online or off.
With four games left in the regular season, Boston is locked in as a top playoff contender. According to BetMGM, they’re the favorite to win the Eastern Conference (-145) and sit just behind the Thunder in odds to win it all (+200).
But if you’re betting on Brown, maybe leave the threats out of it.
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