As states all across the country move toward legalizing sports gambling, it has become a key and crucial part of how fans experience and consume sports, whether it’s the NFL, NBA, MLB, or college sports. But Dallas Mavericks star point guard Kyrie Irving is not a fan of this development.
In a video shared on social media, Kyrie Irving shared some concerns he has with the popularization of gambling, saying that it has “taken the purity and the fun away from the game.”
“Gambling and sports betting has completely taken the purity and the fun away from the game at times,” Irving said in the video. “There’s a difference between being a diehard fan and supporting your team and loving your team vs somebody that’s betting on a parlay or somebody that wants to hit.”
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYorkCity) March 9, 2023
Irving’s words offered some pretty bold and honest thoughts on the current state of the league, and the NBA world had plenty to say about Irving’s opinion on Twitter.
Too bad he doesn't realize 80% of people paying attention to the regular season are gamblers. Casual fans have been taught by the media that only Rings matter 🤷♂️ https://t.co/AEEDgCZUll
— Spread Astaire (@SpreadAstaire) March 9, 2023
Kyrie is 100% correct 🤷♂️ win or lose its still a game some people be waaayyy too serious https://t.co/vyzHE76Xnx
— Redemption Sports Cards (@RedemptionCards) March 10, 2023
putting your needs above the team and taking random extended leaves are also ruining sports https://t.co/XchCFr3f7W
— Jason Oliveira (@JasonOliveiraTV) March 10, 2023
I Bet you that gambling has put more interest in the NBA games…😂😂😂😂😂
I don't bet on NBA games tho, mines is college and pro football… https://t.co/2u2gRqdVdg— Carol Lynne (@Steeler82480) March 9, 2023
Even a broken clock is right twice a day, so I'll give Kyrie some kudos here.
"There's a difference between being a diehard fan and supporting your team and loving your team vs somebody that's betting on a parlay" https://t.co/vpwcyuHRvV
— Steve 🏀 (@intangible_eth) March 9, 2023
Irving may have a point in that it’s certainly changed the way fans follow the NBA, but gambling has also led to more interest in the league, as well. So the good comes with the bad.
