Matt Barnes calls out NBA bosses for mishandling gambling scandal

Former NBA player Matt Barnes criticizes how some media personalities have dealt with it the ongoing gambling scandal. On the latest episode of All The Smoke, Barnes called out fellow sports media, including Rachel Nichols and Pablo Torre, for making public claims or insinuations without complete information.

Barnes, now a prominent basketball analyst and podcast host, expressed frustration at how quickly some names were thrown into the public discourse without clear evidence, especially as the scandal continues with federal investigations and multiple arrests.

“It bothered me a little bit how, obviously, we’re in the media right now,” Barnes said. “Some of our colleagues jumped out there and either insinuated the Rachel Nichols situation where she insinuated, or asked the question. Was Gilbert involved with this? And then later they deleted that tweet, which I didn’t agree with when I first saw it, because again, these are evil people’s lives, you know what I?”

Barnes admitted it Gilbert ArenasThe behavior on social networks has caused speculation, but he emphasized that even that does not justify what he considers an irresponsible comment.

“But I will say that Gilbert and his little trolling — called out, I felt like this guy, and I kind of talked to Gil, and that’s the only thing I was like, bro, you’ve got to stop the bulls– because you’re opening the door for people to make these kinds of allegations against you.”

Matt Barnes after calling out Pablo Torre Kevin Garnettname comes up in NBA gambling probe

A gambling scandal has rocked the NBA in recent weeks, with names like Chauncey Billups, Damon Jones and Terry Rozier linked to federal investigations. Jones allegedly distributed insider information, while Rozier and Billups were arrested as part of a broader operation led by the DOJ. As speculation mounted, social media and news outlets quickly became saturated with unverified claims — prompting a pushback from several figures, including Barnes.

Barnes also criticized Pablo Torre for publicly naming NBA legend Kevin Garnett in connection with the poker games that are now under investigation.

“And then Pablo Torre. The way he threw out Kevin Garnett in the beginning,” Barnes said. “Then Kevin camp came back to him and said, ‘Hey, you know, Kevin thought it was something else. When he found out what it was, he left.’ So his initial statement got over five million views, and his response to something there, you know, a couple of hundred thousand. So for me, to go out there and throw out somebody like Kevin Garnett’s name without actually having the facts … it goes back to trying to be first, not right.”

Rachel Nichols faces a response from Gilbert Arenas amid NBA gambling scandal

Torre posted on X, formerly Twitter, last Friday:

“UPDATE: A number of former professional athletes played in private poker games organized by those charged by the DOJ in ‘Operation Royal Flush.'” One of them — according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the 2019 game — was Kevin Garnett.

Arenas, for his part, responded to Nichols’ now-deleted post on the matter, saying:

“Look, I’m good for all the trolling. That’s cool, but Rachel Nichols is foul.”

Gil calls out Rachel Nichols and SwaggiP for defaming his name 😆 pic.twitter.com/fcpGpc5SUn

— Gil’s Arena (@GilsArenaShow) October 23, 2025

Asked to explain, Arenas added:

“She used my video and actually wrote that I might be cheating. I’ll troll with the best of them, but to ask that question… first of all two of them gamble on the NBA. One throws poker and robs his friends – nothing to do with me.”

While the league and federal authorities continue to investigate, members of the US Congress have requested an official briefing from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver by October 31. Examining media coverage of the scandal adds another layer of complexity to what is already a far-reaching controversy.