Top NBA Stars That Love Gambling

- August 17, 2021

POSTED BY: Eurobasket

NBA players are known for their affinity for the bright lights of Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Turns out they're just like the rest of us. Well, except for the fat bank accounts and silky court skills, right?

There are some NBA stars, however, who are known as downright legendary gamblers. From a mansion break-in that revealed a certain player's huge cash bankroll to a legend whose career was threatened by gambling, these are the top NBA stars who are known for their love of the casino.

J.R. Smith

The most curious story on this list, probably. J.R. Smith has always been a bit of an oddball, with his personality resulting in entertaining play on the court. And don't forget his no-shirt celebration following Cleveland's 2016 title-winning campaign. When he's not playing ball, he's known as a bit of an eccentric guy.

Case in point: his love for gambling and just how far he takes it. In 2010, his mansion was robbed. They took the standard stuff, expensive watches, laptop, the usual. But they also took $15,000 in cash, a.k.a his 'small' gambling bankroll for casual games. Who else keeps five figures in the house for the occasional trip to the casino?

Michael Jordan

Perhaps the most notorious on this list is his Airness himself, Michael Jordan. In Episode 6 of Netflix and ESPN's The Last Dance, fans got an in-depth look at the big question of the NBA in the mid-90s: did Michael have a gambling problem?

The guy would gamble on the team flight on road trips, whether for just $1 a hand or thousands of dollars. He even made up games to play against arena security in Chicago (with a hilarious parody from SNL).

But in 1993, things got ugly. During the Eastern Conference Finals against New York, he took a little detour to Atlantic City, with tabloids spotting him playing blackjack as late as 2:30 am. With a playoff game the same day.

According to #23, however, he didn't have a gambling problem, but a competition problem. He just wants to win, and gambling is part of letting off some steam. It worked for MJ, with the Bulls beating the Knicks and going on to win 1993's NBA title.

These days, MJ could have opted for an online casino, but there's something that the virtual experience just doesn't capture. Brick and mortar is just different, and we're pretty sure Michael would still be caught at live tables. That's because whether you're in a live casino in New Zealand or Chicago or anywhere else on the planet, it just has that something extra.

Charles Oakley

The ex-NY Knicks enforcer is known as a fun guy to have around at the gambling table. Except when you don't pay your debts. Let's just say you don't want to get the guy angry.

Back in 2000, he got into a physical fight with Tyrone Hill, another colossus who played for the Philadelphia 76ers. The issue? This is how Oakley told the story: after losing a game of dice, Tyrone Hill promised to pay a $54,000 debt in two weeks (what's 'just' $54k between rich ballers, right?).

He didn't. So Oakley threw basketballs at the guy before they took the court for a preseason game. He hit him in the head with one of them, which resulted in a fine of $10,000. And then he slapped him.

Charles Barkley

This one is a cautionary tale. Barkley is known for his colorful commentary for TNT, but he also has a bit of a dark gambling past. He was one of the best players in NBA history, but blew a lot of his money on gambling. According to a 2006 admission, he spent a staggering $10 million in Las Vegas throughout his career.

He admits he had a big gambling problem. It got so bad that Wynn Casino took legal steps to have Barkley pay an outstanding $400,000 debt. These days, Charles still loves casinos. But he's changed his spending habits, ensuring he always stays within a preset limit.

Gambling is Fun, Until it Isn't

Without wanting to sour this article by becoming a PBS special, these gambling stories make one thing clear: moderation is key, and so is control. Gambling is fun, sure, but it can turn ugly in a real hurry.

The guys make a bunch of money. If J.R. Smith wants to spend $15k at the casino, let him. That's not an issue, as long as he doesn't blow his entire salary at the blackjack table. And if MJ wants to head to Atlantic City to relieve stress before a game, that's cool too.

But fighting other NBA players on the court due to a gambling debt? Spending the bulk of your salary in Vegas? Nah, that's a step too far. Even for rich guys with some sweet basketball moves.