Charles Barkley Blasts NCAA Proposal to Allow Student-Athletes to Bet on Pro Sports
Former NBA star Charles Barkley sharply criticized the recent NCAA proposal to lift the long-standing ban on sports wagering for student-athletes. The change, adopted by the Division I Administrative Committee, would allow student-athletes and staff to legally bet on professional sports. Barkley called the proposal “the stupidest sh-t” and “incredibly stupid,” questioning the judgment of collegiate sports leadership.
A Reckless Policy Shift
The NCAA’s proposed rule change, pending approval by Divisions II and III by late October, is set to take effect on November 1. It removes the existing prohibition on betting for professional sports, which would typically involve leagues like the NBA, NFL, and MLB.
Barkley expressed disbelief at the decision. “When I heard that, I said: ‘This has got to be a joke,’” he stated. He then issued a harsh warning, comparing the decision to “putting your kids in the kitchen and turning the stove on.” Barkley believes anyone supporting the idea “should have their head examined.”
He directed his frustration at the NCAA’s leadership, questioning their competence. “These are the people we have running college sports right now, and we want to know why it’s a sh-t show,” he noted, expressing a deeper frustration with the state of collegiate athletics governance.
Fears of Increased Corruption
Barkley argued that legalizing any form of sports betting for student-athletes will only escalate existing financial problems and temptations for corruption. He voiced strong concerns that college players will inevitably fail to adhere to the new boundaries.
The core of Barkley’s concern is the slippery slope this change introduces. He asked rhetorically if people truly believe “some of these guys are not going to be betting on their own team or their own colleges?” Allowing students to handle professional bets, he suggested, will simply invite them to cross the line into betting on college games, which remains strictly forbidden.
Barkley pointed to the scale of the existing problem. Multiple investigations involving 13 players across six different schools are currently underway regarding illegal gambling, with some facing permanent bans.
With the massive influx of money from Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, Barkley believes college athletes are already dealing with unprecedented financial pressures. He argued the NCAA should be trying to maintain some semblance of financial control rather than further expanding gambling access among young adults.
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