In the latest episode of “The Big Podcast with Shaq,” featuring Lou Williams and comedy legend Bill Bellamy, the trio engages in a roundtable discussion covering basketball and comedy.
Lou-Will candidly discusses why NBA players dislike hearing about player prop bets and the disrespect they often receive in direct messages (DMs). He also shares memorable stories, including the time Kobe Bryant reclaimed his signature shoes from Lakers teammates and a childhood disappointment with idol Penny Hardaway that led to real beef.
When asked by host Adam Lefkoe about players being aware of their player prop bets, Lou-Will expresses disdain, considering it disrespectful. He emphasizes that NBA players, making significant earnings, don’t care about fans’ prop bets affecting their livelihood. Additionally, he highlights the negative impact of receiving hate-filled DMs from bettors who blame players for their losses, stating that players genuinely hate this aspect of the betting culture.
The conversation delves into the evolving game strategies against players, with Lou-Will discussing how media narratives influence perceptions. He explains that players often adapt to overcome these preconceived notions, and fans may be surprised by the improvements made behind the scenes.
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“No, we actually think it’s disrespectful. You got to think we make a ton of money. We don’t give a f*ck about your prop bet, man. We don’t care about your a hundred-dollar bet. This is my livelihood. So we not going out there thinking, oh, I’m 18 and a half tonight, I got to go make sure this guy makes $1,500…The other aspect of it that people don’t realize is you know how many people DM you and send you hate and tell you, ‘oh fuck you ain’t shit.’ You missed my parlay. And so that aspect of it, like, man, we don’t give a fuck about your bet. So I don’t think that’s a thing for players. We actually hate it.
Later in the episode, Shaq recounts an incident where he had to intervene physically with Lou during a game. Shaq also shares a humorous anecdote about Kobe Bryant’s rookie season, involving a visit from Jerry West, Magic Johnson, and Mitch Kupchak after attempting to impose rookie duties on the young Kobe.
The trio acknowledges the mainstream popularity of gambling and how fans now frequently share their bets with athletes, comparing it to discussing fantasy football teams. They emphasize that athletes generally don’t care about fans’ bets and view it as a parallel to casual sports discussions.
