Randy Livingston, who played eleven seasons in the NBA, knows very well that gambling is a problem that needs to be addressed from the ground up. Livingston speaks from experience; he personally struggled with similar issues during his time in the league and understands how deep this problem runs within professional sports.
In the last three, four years, I’ve been saying the possibility of scandal was very high… It doesn’t matter if it’s college football, college basketball, pro basketball, pro football. I would think this is not going to stop. There’ll be more and more until we start to make the conversations normal.
That’s what Livingston told USA Today, emphasizing that this latest controversy didn’t take him by surprise.
He clarified that he never had a gambling addiction himself, but admitted that his trouble came from playing cards and frequenting casinos. Since 2017, he has dedicated part of his time to helping NBA players who face similar struggles, offering guidance and support to those who reach out to him.
According to Livingston, several players contacted him after the illegal betting scandal broke, one that directly involves Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, former Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, and ex-player turned Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Damon Jones.
Livingston raises awareness among NBA players about gambling
Livingston, who played as a guard from 1996 to 2007, now serves as a responsible gaming ambassador for FanDuel, one of the most prominent online betting platforms. In that role, he works to promote awareness about gambling addiction and the potential consequences of irresponsible betting within professional sports.
He recently participated in orientation programs and talks aimed at educating young players entering the league. During last summer’s NBA event, Livingston addressed a room full of rookies, hoping to make them aware of the dangers that come with fame, money, and access.
Gambling, prostitution, I mean all the things. So there’s some things that I think could change, but just we got to bring awareness and just make sure people are educated and understand the risk involved. Was a step in the right direction. But obviously we got a long ways to go with it. The more we start to normalize the conversation and the more we bring awareness, and … help people understand this addiction and warning signs and how to get help if you’re in the addiction, those things are truly important.
Livingston’s words underline the urgent need for education and transparency around the issue. He believes that by fostering open discussions, the league can prevent future scandals and protect its athletes from destructive habits that could derail their careers and lives.
Ultimately, he says, it will take a united effort across the entire NBA ecosystem, players, coaches, and administrators alike, to ensure that gambling and its related temptations don’t spiral further out of control.
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