Poker has turned into an undeniable favorite pastime not just among NBA players, but among elite sportsmen in various sports. It is the competitive and intellectual nature of the game that has attracted sports champions away from the arena. Sports celebrities such as Brazilian soccer superstar Neymar Jr. and Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps have been caught at the poker table. NBA champions such as the Boston Celtics champion, Paul Pierce, poker star are not the only sportsmen who enjoy playing poker. While many prefer exclusive games at home or charity poker tournaments, others compete in high-stakes games like the World Series of Poker. This has created a high-stakes world where the poker table is an arena for sports competition.
Michael Jordan: Bets, Debts, and All-Nighters
Michael Jordan is said to be the greatest basketball player of all time; however, off the court, he’s equally famous for his gambling. He is a habitual poker player who has registered several live tournament cashes in poker tournaments, including world series of Poker. Yet some of Jordan’s bets sparked controversy:
- In 1991, federal agents seized a $57,000 check he had written (he later admitted it repaid Michael Jordan’s gambling debt).
- A year later, the Chicago Bulls legend was accused of running up roughly $1.2 million in golf gambling losses over a ten-day trip.
- Michael Jordan’s gambling also became known for hosting marathon poker games in hotel suites on road trips. Teammates like Charles Barkley and Magic Johnson recall playing card game-club “every single night“ during the 1992 Olympics, even joking that the real contest was “in the hotel poker room“.
Jordan himself quipped that those all-night sessions felt like the rush of an online casino, almost like chasing an online casino no deposit bonus yet he still managed to pour in 20+ points in Dream Team games the following morning.
Charles Barkley: Tonk and Markers
Charles Barkley is a former NBA Hall of Famer and the MVP of the 1986-87 campaign and 11-time All-Star, and is as famous for his brazen betting habits as his basketball skills. He has freely admitted to losing anywhere from $2 million all the way up to $10 million in his betting career. In one of the more colorful betting tales, Barkley made a $50,000 wager at a celebrity golf charity event in 2005, which he ended up losing.
He’s also tied to legendary poker table tales. An example is the folklore about Barkley losing 50,000 dollars in one night playing the game of Tonk, a high-speed game of Rummola similar to Rummy. The greatest controversy was in 2008 when Wynn Las Vegas filed a case against Barkley to pay him 400,000 dollars in outstanding casino markers. As per the complaint, he abandoned four 100,000 credit slips. Barkley promptly settled, repaying the full $400,000 plus a 10% program fee ($40,000) as agreed.
Russell Westbrook: Poker Nights for Charity
Russell Westbrook, the former NBA MVP, has made his poker addiction into a philanthropic activity:
- Since 2021, the former MVP has organized his annual “Poker Night“ at the Wynn Hotel in Vegas in collaboration with the World Poker Tour (WPT) Foundation for his own Why Not? Russell Westbrook’s charity.
- The former MVP hosted the 4th Annual Poker Night in September 2024, featuring poker professionals Jason Koon, Tom Marchese, and Dan Shak, as well as NBA star Chris Paul. The $7,500 buy-in per participant went directly to charity.By 2024, the first four events have raised over $1.5 million for the foundation.
- The 5th annual Poker Night in late 2025 is organized in a similar fashion as a VIP event with a high buy-in ($7.5K-$10K) for the support of Westbrook’s charity.
Paul Pierce: Cards and Controversy
Paul Pierce, an old Celtic legend and NBA champion, has been around the poker tables for a while. Pierce has been featured in various television poker shows and tournaments. Pierce has been featured in Poker GO shows, including the 2019 Poker After Dark table. Pierce has also participated in various World Series of Poker tournaments, although he has not yet made the money in these tournaments.
In 2021, Paul Pierce lost his ESPN analyst job after livestreaming a controversial poker game at his home, an incident that quickly made headlines. Pierce currently assists in organizing Westbrook’s charity poker games. For a bit of context, the annual Poker Nights aren’t just about the game. The events also raise money for charity, and by 2024 they had generated over $1.5 million for different organizations.
NBA and Poker: From Sponsorships to Scandal
The NBA has fully embraced gambling. The league signed landmark deals, making gaming companies official partners:
- In 2018 MGM Resorts became the NBA’s first official gaming partner.
- In 2021 FanDuel and DraftKings were announced as co-official sports-betting partners.
These arrangements provide sportsbooks with wide access. For instance, MGM can use real-time data and logos from the NBA in its betting services. Moreover, the broadcasts and arenas of the league have advertisements and logos from sportsbooks. However, the growth of the industry has also led to some issues.
In October 2025, the FBI revealed that it would be conducting a major investigation into Mafia-operated illicit poker games and insider betting. A total of 34 individuals have been indicted. Among the individuals charged in the case are NBA coach Chauncey Billups and guard Terry Rozier, who have been charged in illicit poker games operated by organized crime.
