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The biggest story in sports, let alone the NBA, was the FBI gambling investigation announced Thursday, which involved the arrests of Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA guard Damon Jones, among others.
On ESPN’s “Inside The NBA,” the panel consisting of Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley discussed the situation, but it led to heated exchanges between Smith and Barkley.
Smith began by explaining the situation at length.
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Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups leaves the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse after a hearing following his arrest on federal gambling charges in Portland, Oregon, United States, October 23, 2025. (Reuters/John Rudoff)
“We look at the players that are involved and the 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 a 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 would eventually put themselves in that position. Innocent until proven guilty,” he said.
Smith’s next point is what annoyed Barkley, who was visibly frustrated in the office.
“I think the other part is you have to realize that gambling is an addiction, so the addiction is what causes you to make illogical decisions,” Smith continued. “…FBI Director [Kash Patel] said, there is a man who lost $1.8 million. This means he has a lot of money, so he’s addicted to it. Those “fish” they were talking about bringing. So, gambling is an addiction that could lead you to make illogical decisions, regardless of your ethnicity, regardless of your physical background, regardless of your financial situation. So, let’s understand this.
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“I don’t agree that the NBA is dropping the ball. This is an ongoing investigation. There’s no way an FBI, or even a police force, anyone, is going to say, ‘Hey, this is what we’re doing.’ The element of surprise always makes this happen so they can’t overextend the information they receive.
While Smith told Barkley he would let him speak once he made his final point, Barkley couldn’t hold back.
“I wish you would because you’re driving me crazy here,” Barkley said.
“I also think that because there are people getting speeding tickets, that doesn’t mean that everyone in the league is speeding. So don’t look at this group of people that have started to be investigated as the entire league,” Smith concluded.
Kenny Smith looks on before the game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Los Angeles Lakers in 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 it has nothing to do with a goddamn gambling addiction. It has nothing to do with an addiction. These guys are stupid. You can’t, under any circumstances, fix basketball games. Under any circumstances. I like to play. Rozier makes $26 million. Him giving people information or pulling out of games, how much will he benefit to withdraw from games to reach the unders? He earns $26. million.”
Smith chimed in, saying Barkley was proving his point.
“If you’re making $26 million to try to get to $50,000, that’s illogical,” Smith said.
Barkley fired back, reiterating his belief that those involved were not gambling addicts, but rather “this is stupidity.”
“The idea that men are making all this money and giving out information, stop that. It has nothing to do with addiction. It’s complete stupidity on the part of these two,” Barkley said.
O’Neal gave his opinion before the Smith and Barkley debate. He said the league is holding forums to educate players about the dangers of the game.
“All these guys knew what was at stake and I’m just ashamed that they put themselves, they put their families and they put the NBA in that 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 arrest you.”
College basketball analyst Charles Barkley on air before the Final Four championship game of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Billups, a Basketball Hall of Famer like the men on the panel, left a federal courthouse in Oregon on Thursday, where he did not answer questions after being arrested as part of the FBI investigation. Billups was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering because he was allegedly involved in the investigation of rigged poker games.
Billups was released on the condition that he surrender his passport, not contact any of the more than 30 co-defendants charged and not participate in any gambling activities.
Rozier was allegedly involved in the sports betting ring, where schemers allegedly gave non-public information about who would not participate in upcoming games or when they would withdraw early due to injuries or illnesses.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Rozier faked an injury to leave a March 23, 2023 game between the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans. Rozier allegedly told co-defendant Deniro Laster that he would withdraw from the game so Laster could bet on it.
The NBA cooperated with the investigation and placed Billups and Rozier on immediate leave.
