Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown has raised concerns over the NBA’s handling of the expanding sports betting landscape. According to Noa Dalzell of Celtics Blog, Brown said the league has taken “insufficient measures” to prepare players for potential risks.
“How can we protect players more with this environment?” Brown asked, highlighting the absence of meaningful discussion on consequences for athletes involved in betting cases. He noted the league often focuses on revenue growth rather than player safety and awareness.
Brown spoke specifically about former teammate Terry Rozier, who was recently implicated in federal investigations tied to insider NBA information and sports betting. While he admitted he wasn’t fully aware of the details, Brown said the accusations did not align with Rozier’s character.
As Vice President of the NBA Players’ Union, Brown emphasized the importance of clarifying facts and protecting players’ reputations. “If those guys are innocent, it’s not a great look for them publicly, and media-wise. We’ve got to make sure if they are, they’re exonerated and their images are cleaned up,” he said.
The arrests of Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups have shaken the league. Both were taken into custody in separate federal cases, with Billups accused of running mafia-linked illegal poker operations and Rozier allegedly sharing insider information to benefit bettors.
Shams Charania of Inside the NBA explained that Rozier’s involvement ties back to a prior investigation involving Jontay Porter. The operation has now grown to more than 30 arrests, with Damon Jones also facing charges for allegedly passing NBA information to betting networks.
Brown stressed that player education on gambling and potential consequences is critical, given the increasingly complex betting ecosystem. He called for the league to engage in more proactive measures to prevent similar situations in the future.
“This is about getting all the information and getting to the bottom of it,” Brown said, underlining his commitment to both protecting his peers and ensuring transparency across the NBA.
