As professional sports leagues continue sifting through the implications of the legalized sports betting ecosystem their commissioners pushed for, they are not the only ones profiting from it. In the NBA, at least, some of its biggest stars are also cashing in.
It has made for a bizarre landscape. The league is dealing with the fallout of a federal indictment that alleged an illegal sports gambling scheme involving two players. At the same time, sports gambling ads continue to pepper game broadcasts, and sportsbooks are among the major advertisers for the league and many of its teams.
America’s obsession with betting has created havoc for NBA players, who have faced a torrent of abuse from fans and spoken out publicly about it.
