Cleveland Cavaliers Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff has revealed that he has reported threats from sports bettors to the NBA. He was responding to a question at a pre-game press conference on Wednesday about Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton’s comments regarding the role that betting now plays in basketball.
Bickerstaff described how one gambler got their hands on his telephone number and sent him “crazy messages about where I live and my kids.” While the authorities tracked down the person in question, it did not result in any criminal charges.
He also said that he can hear fans screaming in the closing minutes of games about covering the spread.
people aren’t just rooting for their favorite teams or players anymore
The 45-year-old believes that the growing prevalence of legal sports betting means that people aren’t just rooting for their favorite teams or players anymore, which adds pressure to everyone involved in a game.
Bickerstaff thinks that individuals in the sport need more protection from bettors as gamblers can act irrationally and get emotional as they might be trying to pay their rent or electricity bill with their wagers. The presence of a retail sportsbook at the Cavaliers’ home arena also blurs the lines between basketball and gambling, according to the coach.