Jazz HC Will Hardy Sounds Off on the Rising Gambling Problem in NBA

Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy had a lot to say about gambling and the NBA.

The NBA has a problem. With gambling on professional sports on the rise, unfortunate incidents were only a matter of time before they started making headline news.  

The latest comes from Cleveland Cavaliers coach JB Bickerstaff. who says that betting on NBA basketball games has now crossed the line.

"There's no doubt about it that it's crossed the line," Bickerstaff said. "The amount of times where I'm standing up there and we may have a 10-point lead and the spread is 11 and people are yelling at me to leave the guys in so that we can cover the spread, it's ridiculous.”

The Bickerstaff’s comments prompted Salt Lake Tribune beat writer Andy Larsen to ask Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy to give his thoughts on the rise of gambling and how it’s hitting a little too close to home.  Larsen tweeted Hardy's comments on "X".

"I have not had anything happen at the level that happened to J.B. I heard that story from J.B.," Hardy said. "It’s really scary. I have things yelled at me from the crowd every night. When you really sit down & think about it, it is scary."

“Since I got this job, I've had at least one person yell something from the crowd every single night at me — about a particular player, or the spread, or points, rebounds, minutes, fouling at end of the game."

This is a problem that’s going to get worse before it gets better. Online sports betting is now legal in 21 states and counting. What makes it even more problematic is how much it's promoted in the arena and on live television.

That said, the NBA isn't taking these matters lightly, and if you need proof, ask Rudy Gobert. The ex-Jazzman was fined $100,000 after making the money gesture to an NBA official. 

The appearance of a tainted game is bad for business and will cost players dearly in the pocketbook. However, despite the upcoming fine, Gobert didn’t mince words when asked about the incident after his ejection.

“I'll bite the bullet again," Gobert said. "I'll be the bad guy. I'll take the fine, but I think it's hurting our game. I know the betting and all that is becoming bigger and bigger, but it shouldn't feel that way."

There hasn't been a major scandal in the NBA since ex-ref Tim Donnelly was convicted of fixing games in 2007. But that could change after what was reported on Monday. Toronto Raptors center Jontay Portay was out of the lineup due to an NBA investigation into prop betting involving him. 

It remains to be seen how that story unfolds, but let's hope the NBA gets a better grip on the matter as a whole before it gets out of control.