The basketball world was left stunned after news broke that Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups were arrested in connection with an illegal sports betting network allegedly uncovered by the FBI.
The federal agency confirmed that more indictments are expected, suggesting the case could extend far beyond the two high-profile names.
While fans scrambled for details, Shaquille O’Neal took to Inside the NBA to share his thoughts. O’Neal’s reaction mixed honesty with frustration, as he reflected on both his own gambling habits and the clear boundaries every player understands.
“I don’t like to sit up here and be hypocritical about certain things. I homeboy bet, Ernie. You know, bet it, we’ve bet on teams. We’ve played cards, played spades. We’ve played tunk,” O’Neal admitted. “That being said, every year they would give us forums on what and what not to do. One of those things was if someone asked if a certain player was playing, you say no.”
The former MVP’s comments struck a balance between accountability and empathy, but he didn’t hold back.
“All these guys knew what was at stake, and I’m just ashamed that they put themselves and put their families and put the NBA in this position,” he said.
His words carried the weight of someone who has seen how seriously the league takes gambling education. Current players attend mandatory meetings outlining betting restrictions, receive written guidance from the NBA‘s integrity office, and see reminders posted throughout team facilities.
Despite all of that, gambling violations keep surfacing. The most infamous case came earlier this year when Jontay Porter was banned for life after betting on his own performances. For O’Neal, the Rozier and Billups arrests only deepen a problem that should have been unthinkable.
Federal investigators waited for the right moment
While O’Neal condemned their actions, he also cautioned viewers not to rush to judgment, but with a clear understanding of how serious federal cases can be.
“Innocent until proven guilty. But usually, when the FBI has something, they have you. I know a lot of people in the GBI. I’ve been in many of those investigations. They’ll wait 2, 3, 4, 5 years. But when they come knocking on your door, they have something,” O’Neal warned.
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