Shaquille O’Neal Breaks His Silence On NBA Betting Scandal: 'I’m Ashamed'

Shaquille O’Neal is speaking out, and he’s not holding back. The NBA legend delivered a powerful, emotional response Thursday night to the growing NBA sports betting scandal that’s rocked the league and led to the arrest of 34 people, including current players, a head coach, and several alleged Mafia members. Specifically, among them were Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, and former NBA player and coach Damon Jones. Following the news, many athletes and sports broadcasters are weighing in, including Shaq. Appearing on ESPN’s "Inside the NBA," Shaq called the situation “shameful” and said he feels embarrassed on behalf of the athletes who risked everything for money they didn’t need.

During Thursday’s broadcast, a visibly somber O’Neal reflected on the magnitude of the scandal. “All these guys knew what was at stake,” he said. “And I’m just ashamed that they put themselves and their family and the NBA in this position.”

He continued, “We 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 have you. They’ll wait two, three, four, five years, but when they come knocking on your door, they have something.”

The investigation, led by FBI Director Kash Patel, has resulted in a sweeping crackdown that Patel described as “mind-boggling.” According to federal filings, the probe uncovered two overlapping schemes, one involving insider sports betting and another focused on rigged poker games using high-tech cheating equipment.

Patel called the scandal “the insider trading saga for the NBA,” describing tens of millions of dollars in illicit gains tied to wire fraud, money laundering, extortion, and gambling.

O’Neal went on to share a lesson rooted in both street wisdom and life experience. "There’s an old saying in the ‘hood: ‘All money ain’t good money,’” he said firmly.

He acknowledged he’s no stranger to casinos but made a clear distinction between casual gambling and criminal enterprise. “Every now and then, when I go to Vegas, I’ll play some craps and I’ll play some roulette but I never gambled at anyone’s house. Don’t know anything about poker.”

Then came the moment that left his co-hosts silent. “If you’re making $9 million and you’re dealing a certain thing, like, how much more do you need?” he asked. “Especially if you know you get caught, you could do jail time, lose your career, put a bad image on yourself, your family or on the NBA… They dropped the ball.”

Following the FBI’s announcement, the NBA confirmed that both Rozier and Billups have been placed on immediate leave, pending the results of the investigation.

“We are in the process of reviewing the federal indictments announced today,” the league said in a statement. “Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups are being placed on immediate leave from their teams, and we will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities. The integrity of our game remains our top priority.”

Rozier’s attorney, James Trusty, has since pushed back against the allegations, calling the case “a revival of a non-case.” “Prosecutors appear to be taking the word of spectacularly incredible sources rather than relying on actual evidence of wrongdoing,” Trusty said. “Terry was cleared by the NBA, and these prosecutors revived that non-case."

While some analysts focused on the legal implications, Shaq’s message hit on something deeper: legacy and responsibility. He reminded players that the NBA has worked for decades to rebuild trust after the 2007 Tim Donaghy referee scandal, and that integrity remains the foundation of the league’s image.

“As someone who’s been blessed by this game, I hate seeing it dragged through the mud,” he said. “This ain’t just about the players, it’s about the fans, the kids, the history. We gotta protect that.”

With the FBI expanding its investigation and names continuing to surface, Shaq’s words serve as both a warning and a plea: the choices made now could define how the NBA is remembered for years to come.