NBA players are no strangers to fan feedback, whether it’s positive or negative. It’s part of the job.
But this season, the tone is changing.
The rise in legalized gambling across all professional leagues and college sports has had unforeseen effects on American sports. While the influx of revenue has its benefits, a concerning new trend has emerged: verbal abuse directed at players and coaches based on fans’ wagers.
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Fans can now place real-time bets on their smartphones during games, covering various aspects like individual player performances and team statistics. And when these bets don’t pay off, fans are taking out their frustrations on the players.
“It’s becoming extreme,” remarked LA Clippers forward P.J. Tucker. “It’s reaching a point of madness. Hearing fans in the arenas yelling at players about their bets is unreal. It’s a serious issue that needs to be addressed.”
While teams have not made significant changes to their security measures, some have increased security presence near the court in response to the uptick in gambling-related aggression. There have been instances where extra security guards have been stationed near the bench and cybersecurity staff have been added to monitor online interactions from fans.
“It’s chaotic out there,” said Ochai Agbaji, a guard for the Toronto Raptors. “It’s like the wild west at the moment.”
For years, gambling was a taboo subject in sports, with scandals in college basketball and strict opposition from professional leagues. However, with the legalization of sports betting in 2018, the landscape changed rapidly.
Teams now have partnerships with casinos, and announcers regularly discuss betting odds during broadcasts. The NBA even allows fans to track betting odds and place bets through its streaming app with its partners FanDuel and DraftKings.
(The Athletic has a partnership with BetMGM.)
But with this newfound relationship between sports and betting comes a downside in the form of increased verbal abuse from irate fans.
“You see fans on Twitter going back and forth with players about how they lost money,” observed Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum. “It’s funny, in a way. I feel bad if I don’t come through for their bets, but I just focus on playing the game.”
Cleveland Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff shared an unsettling experience where a gambler obtained his number and sent threatening messages, indicating knowledge of his whereabouts.
“It’s a dangerous game we’re playing,” Bickerstaff remarked.
Toronto Raptors forward Jordan Nwora highlighted the constant comments related to betting from fans.
“It’s nonstop,” Nwora stated. “Messages, sideline chatter, it’s everywhere.”
A league spokesperson mentioned that while incidents of fan comments related to gambling are not currently more common than other forms of misconduct, it remains a concern that the league actively monitors.
The focus of much of the hostility stems from prop bets, which are now popular among fans for their unique wagering options. These bets cover specific aspects of games that may not directly impact the outcome.
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Recent incidents involving prop bets in college basketball games and NBA player performances have raised concerns about the influence of gambling on players.
“To half the world, I’m just a prop for their bets,” lamented Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton.
Haliburton elaborated on the impact of betting on his social media interactions and expressed how verbal abuse during games has worsened in recent years.
Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony also noted the pressure created by parlay betting and the increased scrutiny players face.
The NBA, with its players visible and accessible to fans, is particularly susceptible to this changing dynamic. Team security addresses disruptive fans, while the league monitors social media activity and shares information with other sports organizations.
Bickerstaff reported a disturbing incident of receiving threats from a gambler, which was investigated but not pursued legally. Tatum acknowledged the shift in fan interactions from his early days in the league.
— Sam Amick, Eric Koreen, Josh Robbins, James Boyd, Jared Weiss, and Jason Lloyd contributed to this report.
(Photo of Tyrese Haliburton: Ron Hoskins / NBAE via Getty Images)