On the surface of this gambling scandal, it’s mind-numbingly perplexing — all-time dumb — that these well-compensated NBA players and coaches would get involved.
It’s not like this is the 1920s and Arnold Rothstein is making an offer you can’t refuse. I don’t know what Mafia bosses are raking in annually these days before taxes (err, laundering), but I’m guessing it’s less than the $21.5 million Terry Rozier pocketed in salary during the season he allegedly feigned injury. According to the DOJ, Rozier’s alleged illegal activity resulted in payments to his associate in the “tens of thousands.”
That’s it. Relative chump change. Even if Rozier was deep in debt — the mother of his daughter accused him of being a deadbeat dad in a 2019 lawsuit — it’s beyond comprehension he’d turn to wiseguys for a small payday that could ruin his career. It’d be like us regular folk risking it all by robbing a vending machine. Swedish Fish are good, but not that good.
If I were to jump into the minds of these men, I can see the line of thinking. It’s still stupid and reckless, mind you, but less egregious ethically considering the NBA enables such behavior.