Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith bicker over NBA…
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 habit, explained that it’s 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 strains when he knew he was going to pull himself from the sport 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 might put themselves in that place, presumably. And then it’s harmless until confirmed guilty.
“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 manner.
“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 court 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 court 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 properly, saying he was upset to see Rozier and Billups, as properly as Jones — who is accused of promoting info relating to gamers on the Lakers who wouldn’t 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 latest on the playing scandal rocking the NBA:
The FBI has arrested 31 people concerned in a rigged poker recreation ring backed by the New York City organized crime households.
Ernest Aiello — reputed Bonanno mobster
Nelson “Spanish G” Alvarez
Louis “Lou Ap” Apicella
Ammar “Flapper Poker” Awawdeh
Saul Becher — skilled poker participant
Chauncey Billups — Portland Trail Blazers coach, NBA Hall of Famer and 2004 NBA champion
Matthew “The Wrestler” Daddino
Eric “Spooky” Earnest
Lee Fama — skilled poker participant
John Gallo
Marco Garzon
Thomas “Tommy Juice” Gelardo — reputed Lucchese mobster charged in 2013 for beating porn star girlfriend
Jamie Gilet
Tony “Black Tony” Goodson
Kenny Han
Shane “Sugar” Henne
Osman “Albanian Bruce” Hoti
Horatio Hu
Zhen “Scruli” Hu
Damon “Dee Jones” Jones — NBA participant from 1998 to 2009
Joseph Lanni
John “John South” Mazzola
Curtis Meeks
Nicholas Minucci
Michael Renzulli
Anthony Ruggiero Jr.
Anthony “Doc” Shnayderman
Robert “Black Rob” Stroud
Seth Trustman
Sophia “Pookie” Wei
Julius Ziliani
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 injury.
He did exit that recreation with an injury and bettors allegedly profited on the knowledge.
Billups and Rozier’s arrest are half of two separate FBI probes into unlawful playing, respectively, Operation Royal Flush and Operation Nothing But Bet.
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