Sports
Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith clash over FBI gambling probe allegedly involving NBA figures: ‘That’s stupidity’
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The biggest story in sports, let alone the NBA, was the FBI gambling probe that was announced on Thursday, which involved the arrests of Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA guard Damon Jones among many others.
During ESPN’s “Inside The NBA,” the panel of Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley discussed the situation, but it resulted in a bit of a heated back and forth between Smith and Barkley.
Smith began with his lengthy take on the situation.
Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups leaves the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse after a hearing following his arrest on federal gambling charges in Portland, Oregon, U.S., Oct. 23, 2025. (REUTERS/John Rudoff)
“We look at players who are involved and people who are involved, we’re surprised when you have access and you’re at the top of the game, so to speak as a coach or a player or whatever at the top of the game, you have access to millions of dollars in this league. So, it was surprising that they put themselves in that position possibly. Innocent until proven guilty,” he said.
Smith’s next point is what ticked off Barkley, who was visibly frustrated at the desk.
“I think the other part is you have to realize gambling is an addiction, so the addiction of it is what makes you make illogical decisions,” Smith continued. “… The FBI Director [Kash Patel] said, there’s a man who lost $1.8 million. That means he has a lot of money, so he has an addiction to that. Those ‘fish’ that they talked about bringing in. So, gambling is an addiction which could make you make illogical decisions regardless of your ethnic background, regardless of your physical background, regardless of your financial status. So, let’s understand that.
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“I disagree in terms of the NBA dropping the ball. This is an ongoing investigation. There’s no way that any FBI, or police even, who anyone would say, ‘Hey, this is what we’re doing.’ The surprise element always makes it happen so they cannot overextend the information they’re receiving.
As Smith told Barkley he would let him talk once he made his final point, Barkley couldn’t hold back.
“I wish you would because you’re making me mad right here,” Barkley said.
“I also think that because there’s people getting speeding tickets it doesn’t mean everyone in the league speeds. So, don’t look at this group of people that started to get investigated as the entire league,” Smith concluded.
Kenny Smith, looks on before the game between the New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers as part of the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament on December 7, 2023, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images)
Then, it was Barkley’s turn to speak.
“First of all, these are two different things,” he began. “Take Chauncey out of the equation, and the reason I’m mad at Kenny is this has nothing to do with a damn gambling addiction. This ain’t got nothing to do with addiction. These dudes are stupid. You can, under no circumstances, fix basketball games. Under no circumstances. I love to gamble. Rozier makes $26 million. Him giving people information or taking himself out of games, how much is he going to benefit taking himself out of games to hit unders? He’s making $26 million.”
Smith butted in, as he said Barkley was proving his point.
“If you’re making $26 million to try to when $50,000, that’s illogical,” Smith said.
Barkley fired back, reiterating his belief that those involved were not gambling addicts, but rather “that’s stupidity.”
“The notion that guys are making all this money and giving information, stop that. That’s got nothing to do with addiction. It’s total stupidity on those two’s parts,” Barkley said.
O’Neal gave his take prior to the Smith and Barkley debate. He said the league gave forums to inform players about the dangers of gambling.
“All these guys knew what was at stake and I’m just ashamed that they put themselves, put their family and put the NBA in this position,” O’Neal said. “You all know the rules, we all know the letter of the law and it’s just unfortunate. Innocent until proven guilty, but usually when the FBI has something, they have you.”
College basketball analyst Charles Barkley on air before the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Final Four championship game. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Billups, a Basketball Hall of Famer like the men on the panel, left an Oregon federal courthouse on Thursday, where he didn’t answer questions after being arrested as part of the FBI investigation. Billups was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, as he was allegedly involved in the rigged poker games investigation.
Billups was released from custody under the conditions of turning over his passport, not contacting any of the 30-plus co-defendants charged, and not participating in any gambling activity.
Rozier was allegedly involved in the sports gambling ring, where schemers were allegedly giving non-public information about who would be sitting out future games or when they would be pulling themselves out early for injuries or illnesses.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Rozier faked an injury to leave a March 23, 2023, game between the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans. Rozier was alleged to have told co-defendant Deniro Laster that he would take himself out of the game so Laster could bet on it.
The NBA cooperated with the investigation and placed Billups and Rozier on an immediate leave of absence.
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NFL fans may not have any nails left to bite as several games came down to the wire in Week 11.
Six games came within three points while eight games came within seven points. The Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers each won their respective games in overtime. The Dolphins did it while playing the first-ever regular-season NFL game in Madrid, Spain.
Meanwhile, Josh Allen led the Buffalo Bills to a win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a slugfest. He scored three touchdowns through the air and three touchdowns on the ground.
As of now, the Kansas City Chiefs are out of the playoff picture. The Chiefs lost to the Denver Broncos in the closing moments and dropped to 5-5 on the season.
Read below for the rest of the scores this week.
Nov. 13, 2025
- New England Patriots 27, New York Jets 14
Nov. 16, 2025
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Orchard Park, New York. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)
- Miami Dolphins 16, Washington Commanders 13 (OT)
- Carolina Panthers 30, Atlanta Falcons 27 (OT)
- Buffalo Bills 44, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 32
- Houston Texans 16, Tennessee Titans 13
- Chicago Bears 19, Minnesota Vikings 17
- Green Bay Packers 27, New York Giants 20
- Pittsburgh Steelers 34, Cincinnati Bengals 12
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) walks the field after his team’s win over the Minnesota Vikings in an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Minneapolis. (Matt Krohn/AP Photo)
- Jacksonville Jaguars 35, Los Angeles Chargers 6
- Los Angeles Rams 21, Seattle Seahawks 19
- San Francisco 49ers 41, Arizona Cardinals 22
- Baltimore Ravens 23, Cleveland Browns 16
- Denver Broncos 22, Kansas City Chiefs 19
- Philadelphia Eagles 16, Detroit Lions 9
Denver Broncos place kicker Wil Lutz (3) after celebrates after making a 35-yard field goal to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Denver. (Jack Dempsey/AP Photo)
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Nov. 17, 2025
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Midnight Mode, indeed.
On the day the Rams donned black uniforms for the only time this season, the offense largely went dark.
Red-hot quarterback Matthew Stafford cooled. Star receivers Davante Adams and Puka Nacua struggled to consistently make the clutch plays that they often make look routine.
But safety Kamren Kinchens and the Rams’ defense managed to keep the Seattle Seahawks at bay — just barely.
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Gary Klein breaks down what went right for the Rams in a 21-19 victory over the Seattle Seahawks at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.
Kinchens intercepted two passes, and cornerbacks Cobie Durant and Darious Williams also picked off passes as the Rams held off the Seahawks for a 21-19 victory on Sunday at SoFi Stadium that was not secured until Seattle’s Jason Myers missed a 61-yard field goal as time expired.
“I’m proud of our football team,” coach Sean McVay said. “We’re not going to apologize for finding different ways to win.”
No apologies necessary. Despite some struggles Sunday, the Rams are living up to expectations as a Super Bowl contender.
Stafford continues to play without major errors, the defensive front continues to pressure quarterbacks into mistakes, and kicking-game issues appear to be solved.
And now the secondary, regarded as a potential liability before the season, is stepping up.
Stafford tossed touchdown passes to Adams and tight end Colby Parkinson, and Kyren Williams rushed for a touchdown as the Rams improved to 8-2, extended their winning streak to five games and assumed sole possession of first place in the NFC West.
Rams coach Sean McVay tries to rev up his players before Sunday’s 21-19 win over the Seahawks at SoFi Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“We found a way to win without playing perfect football against a really good football team,” Stafford said. “So I’ll take it.”
So will Adams, whose lone catch marked the 1,000 of his career and his league-leading 10th touchdown reception this season.
“It wasn’t like it was the worst of all time,” he said of the offense’s performance, “but to our standard it definitely was not there.
“But, I mean, it makes you feel even better knowing you can play like crap … and still come out with a victory against a really good team.”
The Rams can thank Kinchens, a second-year safety who has six career interceptions, including four against the Seahawks. His interceptions set up Williams’ one-yard touchdown in the first quarter and Parkinson’s six-yard score in the fourth.
Rams safety Kamren Kinchens celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass in the second half against Seattle on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“Man, they want to throw the ball,” a chuckling Kinchens said in explaining his success against the Seahawks. “People that want to kind of put it down the field or give us a shot — big mistake.”
Or, as Durant put it: “Preaching what we do every day, man — take the ball away.”
The Rams went into the game having scored at least 34 points in each of their last three games. But that production was absent against a Seahawks team that fell to 7-3 and had its four-game winning streak end.
Stafford increased his league-leading total of touchdown passes to 27 and did not have a pass intercepted for the seventh consecutive game. But the 17th-year pro was not as sharp as he had been during a stretch that put him in the conversation for NFL most valuable player.
“I’m obviously excited that we got the win,” said Stafford, who completed 15 of 28 passes for 130 yards. “Don’t get it twisted on me here, but at the same time I know I can be better too.”
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford slings a pass to tight end Colby Parkinson in the first half Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Stafford enjoyed a banner day compared to Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold.
The Rams’ front did not sack Darnold but it pressured him into poor decisions, and Kinchens, Durant and Williams made him pay. Darnold completed 29 of 44 passes for 279 yards with four interceptions.
Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was on pace to set an NFL record for yards receiving in a season, caught nine passes for 105 yards. But he did not score.
Cooper Kupp, the former Rams star making his return to SoFi Stadium, did not have a catch in the first three quarters but had three during a late scoring drive that trimmed the Rams’ lead to two points.
With 1 minute 41 seconds left, Rams punter Ethan Evans kicked the ball 50 yards to the Seahawks’ one-yard line. The Seahawks drove past midfield, but Myers could not match his career-best 61-yard field goal against the Rams in 2020.
This time it went wide right, generating a roar from the crowd, a sigh of relief from the Rams and a joyous locker room celebration.
“It’s a lot of fun in there,” McVay said.
With more, seemingly, to come.
Rams defensive end Braden Fiske (55) and linebacker Byron Young (0) pressure Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold in the fourth quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Sports
Texas state trooper scolds South Carolina wide receiver after touchdown; department speaks out
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A Texas state trooper was “relieved of his game-day assignment” Saturday after exchanging words with South Carolina’s Nyck Harbor after a long touchdown.
After Harbor caught a pass and ran for the 80-yard score, he grabbed his right hamstring and continued walking into a tunnel at Kyle Field.
Several of his teammates joined him, and Harbor walked out of the tunnel gingerly.
South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Nyck Harbor runs with the ball against the Texas A&M Aggies Oct. 28, 2023, at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. (Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
As he walked back, an officer walked in between, and made contact with, Harbor and running back Oscar Adaway III.
The officer then scolded Harbor, who turned back but kept walking toward the field.
The police department announced on X that the officer was relieved of his game-day assignment and sent home.
NBA star LeBron James called for the officer to be suspended.
“That A&M cop needs to suspended! That was premeditated and corny AF!! He went out his way to start some s—. Do better man,” he posted to X.
The touchdown put the Gamecocks up 27-3, and that lead would increase to 30-3, but the third-ranked Aggies stormed all the way back for a wild 31-30 victory.
South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Nyck Harbor celebrates a play against Texas A&M Aggies during the second half at Kyle Field. (Dustin Safranek/USA Today Sports)
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Texas A&M outscored South Carolina 28-0 in the second half to complete its biggest comeback ever.
Marcel Reed threw for a career-high 439 yards and three touchdowns to move the Aggies to 10-0 on the season.
The comeback eclipsed a 21-point rally by a Johnny Manziel-led team in a 52-48 win in the 2013 Chick-fil-A Bowl over Duke. Entering Saturday, teams were 0-286 in Southeastern Conference play since 2004 when trailing by 27 points or more.
Reed bounced back from an awful first half, when he was intercepted twice and had a fumble returned for a score to put the Aggies in a 30-3 hole. He had a dazzling second half to keep Texas A&M on track for its first trip to the College Football Playoff.
The Aggies took the lead for the first time on a 4-yard run by EJ Smith with about 11 minutes left.
Texas A&M had a first down at the 1 after that, but Jamarion Morrow fumbled on a trick play, and the Gamecocks recovered with about three minutes to go.
Texas A&M Aggies running back EJ Smith celebrates with wide receiver Izaiah Williams after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Kyle Field. (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)
Dalton Brooks and Cashius Howell sacked LaNorris Sellers on consecutive plays to bring up fourth-and-16 with about 90 seconds to go. Sellers scrambled on fourth down, and he was stopped short of the first down marker to seal the victory.
Sellers threw for 246 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for South Carolina (3-7, 1-7), which lost a fifth straight game.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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