Gambling has become a growing issue in the NBA, affecting everyone from two-way players all the way up to head coaches. With sports betting now legal in most US states, the league needs new ways to protect its integrity while players navigate an environment full of financial temptations.

One high-profile case in the recent FBI investigation involves Terry Rozier. He is accused of tipping off an associate that he planned to leave a game early, due to an injury, on 23 March 2023 while with the Charlotte Hornets. That associate then placed bets on Rozier’s “under” performance, meaning they bet he would do worse than expected, and allegedly made money from it.

Some commentators and podcasters have suggested a partial solution, allowing players to bet only on their “overs,” not their “unders.” The idea is that this would make players give their best effort rather than underperform for money. But this is not a perfect solution. It still creates situations where players may feel pressured to change how they play to make money, without real consequences.

Think about Russell Westbrook’s MVP season, when he was chasing a historic triple-double. There were clear moments when teammates like Steven Adams would leave rebounds for him to help reach that milestone. At the time, it did not matter, because it was about personal achievement. But imagine a player in a close game who has not reached their “over” for a bet. The choice between personal gain and the team’s success is risky, and it puts the integrity of the sport in danger. We want players to put the team and the game first, but this is not always the case.

Sports betting can become a destructive pattern, far beyond casual risk-taking. Risking millions on a game, especially amounts far higher than normal earnings, shows serious compulsive behaviour. Research shows that sports bettors are often younger, male, impulsive, thrill-seeking, and may have other addictive behaviours. NBA players, with their high incomes, competitive pressure, and access to inside information, are particularly at risk.

There are many examples showing why NBA players could be vulnerable to gambling problems, but spotting the risk is not enough. The solution is simple. Players should be allowed to bet, but not on individual stats. Instead, they could bet only on team success.

This is similar to Floyd Mayweather, who has talked openly about his bets. When he tried to place a $400,000 wager on himself to win by knockout against Conor McGregor in 2017, the casino rejected it. Letting players bet on team outcomes removes the moral dilemma, because personal gain and the team’s success align. It also gives players a way to gamble, whether for fun or habit, without putting the game we love at risk.