Kevin Garnett’s Name Emerges in the Growing NBA Gambling Scandal

The escalating scandal surrounding illegal gambling activities by NBA players and associates has now drawn in Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett. Recent reports allege that the basketball legend might have participated in illegal poker games under investigation by the FBI. Garnett has not yet been accused of any wrongdoing and has not been named in the indictment.

The Betting Probe Revealed a Sprawling Operation

These escalating rumors follow the arrests of Miami Heat’s Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers’ head coach Chauncey Billups, who are both linked to separate illegal gambling operations. In October, the FBI disclosed that it had been running a comprehensive multi-year investigation into two different but connected betting schemes involving NBA employees and organized crime figures.

Sports journalist Pablo Torre recently reported that sources close to the investigation claim that Garnett played in a private poker game in 2019 that federal investigators believe was tied to a Mafia-backed gambling ring. Torre emphasized that Garnett’s name was not present in any of the indictments, and there is no evidence that the athlete was involved in the operation.

A number of former pro athletes played at private poker games organized by those indicted by the DOJ. One of them was Kevin Garnett.

Pablo Torre

Federal filings indicate that a poker operation, allegedly fronted by Billups and former NBA player Damon Jones, was a cover for a mob-controlled high-stakes gambling ring. Prosecutors allege that the presence of celebrity athletes was intended to attract wealthy players, who were then cheated through rigged card shufflers and marked decks. Victims reportedly lost tens of thousands of dollars.

The NBA Will Introduce Integrity Reforms

In a separate branch of the investigation, Rozier and Jones are accused of participating in an illegal sports betting scheme that leveraged leaked information to profit from wagers. Federal prosecutors claim that Rozier deliberately faked an injury in 2023, allowing his associates to make easy money by placing “under” bets associated with his performance stats. On the other hand, Jones allegedly leaked confidential injury details, allowing for similar manipulation.

The NBA sent a memo to all its teams immediately after the arrests, underscoring that the integrity of basketball remains a priority. The league noted it was reviewing its injury reporting and player information protocols, seeking to prevent potential abuse. The memo also strongly criticized proposition bets, wagers based on the performance of individual players, labeling them as a heightened risk to integrity.

While the evolving scandal has pushed the NBA to update its integrity safeguards, the case is far from over. Garnett’s association with the case remains anecdotal as of now, and the athlete has not commented publicly on the allegations. However, the list of high-profile athletes involved in the scandal may continue to grow, especially as authorities press on with their investigation.