Gambling and casino games are quite exciting and fun past-time activities, and there is no surprise that some professional basketball players like to spare some money on their favorite casino games.
NBA is one of the most popular sports in the world, which is why athletes are earning millions of dollars each year.
So, what do you do with all that money? Well, you buy your excitement through playing casino games.
Let’s highlight some of the most popular NBA players that share a big passion for gambling.
Popular NBA Players that Love Casino Games
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, and his competitive drive on the court is legendary.
Jordan has a penchant for gambling and has been known to enjoy a hand of cards or a round of golf with buddies. Jordan’s gambling habits, in fact, have been the subject of considerable discussion and debate over the years.
He was suspended from the NBA in 1993 for gambling on games, and he’s been known to rack up large losses at the casino. Despite these setbacks, Jordan’s love for gambling has continued, and he’s even owned a stake in a casino in the past.
Charles Barkley
Charles Barkley is another well-known NBA player that enjoys gambling. Barkley has been vocal about his passion for the game, and he’s been known to play blackjack or poker in his spare time.
In truth, Barkley has had several well-publicized gambling losses over the years, including a $400,000 loss at Las Vegas’ Wynn casino in 2006.
Despite these losses, Barkley has continued to enjoy gambling and has previously competed in high-stakes tournaments. Perhaps you can find Charles when you explore poker crypto games online.
Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal is a renowned television personality and expert who was a former NBA player. O’Neal is known to like gambling in his spare time, and he’s even been known to play a little poker. In reality, O’Neal had already competed in the World Series of Poker, placing in the top 500 and winning $5,480.
LeBron James
Yes, the king is on the list. LeBron James is a current Los Angeles Lakers NBA player who is widely regarded as one of the finest players of all time. James is known to like gambling in his spare time, and he’s even been known to play a little poker.
He is not exposing his gambling passion that much and you can rarely see James in a casino. However, deep down, we all know that he is a true gambling lover.
Steph Curry
The popular 3-point daemon is also on the list of gambling lovers. Curry is known for his flamboyant lifestyle, and we all know that he is a true gambling lover. On the court, he is known for his incredible shooting skills and competitive spirit, but in his free time, Steph Curry also enjoys a bit of gambling.
He likes playing games like Blackjack and Roulette, and he also loves Poker.
There aren’t many facts about Curry’s history with gambling, but it is safe to say that it is just his past-time activity that brings him excitement.
Antonie Walker
Antoine Walker is grateful to his friend Michael Jordan for sparking his interest in gambling, but things didn’t turn out great for him.
Walker has experienced a number of problems as a result of gaming, including gambling debts and addiction. When his financial situation deteriorated a few years ago, he was compelled to fight to repay debts totaling more than $1 million to more than 10 different Las Vegas casinos.
Before his problems, he was estimated to have a total net worth of more than $100 million, so you can imagine how much money he squandered on gambling.
Scottie Pippen
Scottie Pippen is an NBA icon who won six titles with the Chicago Bulls. But, even while he was playing for one of the finest teams in the league and earning millions of dollars, he had a penchant for gambling. In fact, he was so addicted to gambling that he lost $1.4 million in only one year!
Pippen allegedly issued bogus checks at California and Illinois casinos. As a result, his name was blacklisted from all casinos in America—a devastating blow to someone who enjoys playing cards as much as Pippen! Fortunately for him, Pippen has recovered from this setback and is back playing poker now.
