Former NBA star Kendrick Perkins discusses his gambling activities in light of Jared Morris's gambling scandal.
In a candid discussion on the Road Trippin' podcast, former NBA center Kendrick Perkins has issued a stark warning to current players about the dangers of gambling addiction and the related debt that can lead to legal and financial troubles.
Perkins, who has openly discussed his past gambling addiction, revealed that he was once a "big time gambler" primarily playing blackjack. He explained how casino credit, or βmarkers,β can trap players, with a gambler starting with a $20,000 credit line and quickly spiraling into owing $100,000 or more, leading to severe financial danger.
The former basketball star used the recent scandal involving Marcus Morris as a catalyst for his discussion. Morris, who has played in the NBA for 13 seasons, was arrested after allegedly writing $260,000 in bad checks to the MGM Grand and Wynn Las Vegas. Perkins expressed empathy for Morris, emphasizing that gambling addiction can affect even successful athletes.
Morris' case is not an isolated incident in the NBA. Jontay Porter, a current player, was the first active player to be banned from the NBA in April 2024 and has faced a global ban from sport due to gambling-related issues.
Perkins warned against accepting lines of credit at casinos, as they can lead to trouble. He explained how casinos use aggressive tactics to pursue unpaid debts and how ignoring such debts, as Morris reportedly did, leads to escalating pressure and consequences.
Perkins' struggles with gambling and gambling-related harm serve as an important topic for discussion. He voluntarily signed himself out of casinos, promising not to gamble again, after incurring significant debt due to reckless gambling spending.
Perkins' warning about the dangers of casino lines of credit is based on his personal experiences with gambling addiction. He has spoken about the toll it took on his mentality and personal life. He also highlighted the broader context of NBA gambling problems, mentioning the case of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, who has faced legal woes over his behavior, including the alleged running of a gambling ring.
In summary, Perkins advises NBA players to be vigilant about gambling, highlighting the risks of falling into debt and addiction, as exemplified by the cases of Marcus Morris and Jontay Porter. He stresses that even respected athletes can be vulnerable to gambling harm and urges them to seek help before problems become unmanageable.
- Kendrick Perkins, a former NBA center, warned current players about the risks of gambling addiction, particularly when it comes to casino games like blackjack, citing his own past experience as a "big time gambler."
- Casinos use tactics, such as offering casino credit or markers, to entice players, but Perkins cautioned that these lines of credit can easily lead to overwhelming debt.
- The warning comes after the recent scandal involving Marcus Morris, who was arrested for writing bad checks worth over $260,000 to MGM Grand and Wynn Las Vegas, demonstrating the severe consequences of gambling-related troubles.
- Jontay Porter, a current NBA player, is another example of someone who has faced gambling-related issues, having been banned from the NBA in April 2024 due to such problems.
- Perkins' warnings reflect the broader trend of gambling problems in the NBA, with even successful athletes like former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas facing legal woes related to gambling activities.
