NBA All-Star Paolo Banchero did not stay quiet as a bettor asked him for help on his parlay.
A fan was sitting courtside as Banchero’s Orlando Magic took on the Philadelphia 76ers in a preseason contest at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pa. Banchero was standing in the corner as the man asked him for “two more points” to complete his leg of a parlay.
A foul was called just as the man tried to get the Magic star’s attention. With a break in the action, Banchero had enough time on his hands to call the fan out.
“Why are you betting on preseason, yo?” Banchero asked the fan. “You’re addicted. It’s the preseason, bro. Relax.”
The fan responded by claiming he had won “every day since Sunday.” Banchero cut toward the basket as the bettor tried to justify wagering during the NBA’s exhibition period.
Banchero played just 24 minutes in the Magic’s 128-98 drubbing of the Sixers. He scored 13 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, and dished out 2 assists.
Based on the game clock, the exchange appeared to occur midway through the third quarter. Unfortunately for the fan, Banchero was taken out of the game less than a minute later without scoring another basket and did not return.
Just like that, the fan’s supposed streak of winning “every day since Sunday” came to an end.
NBA stars calling out fans for their betting habits is nothing new. With fans actively blaming athletes for losing wagers, it’s easy to see why players are sick of the impact sports betting has had on the player-fan relationship.
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