Shaquille O’Neal Reacts To NBA Gambling Arrests, ‘I’m Ashamed’

Shaquille O’Neal on Thursday evening addressed the bombshell arrests related to present and former NBA gamers … and he did not maintain again, saying he was “ashamed” of the fellows for placing themselves within the scenario.

Just hours after Chauncey Billups, Damon Jones and Terry Rozier have been taken into custody for his or her alleged roles in unlawful sports activities betting and rigged playing schemes … O’Neal chided the trio whereas on the set of “Inside the NBA.”

O’Neal instructed his colleagues he isn’t a saint — admitting he partakes in playing once in a while — however he added, “I’m ashamed that those guys would put their families and their careers in jeopardy.”

“There’s an old saying in the hood,” the Lakers legend mentioned. “‘All money ain’t good money.’ So if you’re making $9 million and you’re dealing a certain thing — like, how much more do you need? Especially if you know you get caught, you can do jail time. Lose your career. Put a bad image on yourself or your family. Or on the NBA.”

“They dropped the ball.”

Billups — an NBA legend who’s been the top coach of the Portland Trail Blazers the previous couple of years — was arrested in Oregon on Thursday morning after authorities alleged he helped Mafia members swindle money from victims by fixing poker video games. Rozier, a Miami Heat guard, was put in cuffs in Orlando across the identical time over claims he helped bettors win wagers by giving them data that he deliberate to drag himself from a recreation in 2023 with a faux damage.

Jones, in the meantime, was arrested after prosecutors say the previous Cleveland Cavaliers guard not solely participated in the identical card video games Billups did … but additionally doled out confidential NBA data to bettors as effectively.

Attorneys for Billups and Rozier each denied the allegations towards their shoppers on Thursday night … however O’Neal nonetheless was upset within the hoopers.