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- Clippers guard Jamal Crawford has played in the NBA for 16 years and once gambled heavily with the likes of Michael Jordan and Ray Allen
- Writer of “The Undefeated” gives details how Crawford would gamble large sums of money he didn’t have with professional gamblers
- Claims to have lost at least $100,000 to Michael Jordan and Ray Allen, but probably more
- If he doesn’t pay now, these guys will kill Crawford, the threat to his agent once warned
LA Clippers guard Jamal Crawford says he once lost so much money gambling with the likes of fellow NBA stars Michael Jordan and Ray Allen along with other professional gamblers that he would receive death threats.
Crawford, who just signed a three-year $42 million deal with the Clippers, is the subject of a Mark Wise profile as part of “The Undefeated” detailing the “long and winding road” of his career along with his numerous struggles.
Wise writes that, “[Crawford] began making bets with money he didn’t have on hand with a group of professional gamblers used to getting paid on the spot.”
He also would gamble with Jordan at his restaurant, Sixtyblue, along with Allen, and lost at least $100,000. Sources suggest that amount was much more, quite possibly approaching the million dollar mark.
"It was like air money. But it was money I was going to have to pay somehow eventually," Crawford said.
Crawford’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, once received a call that the player had yet to pay off his gambling debt
The account appears as part of the profile:
“OK,” Goodwin said, according to the person with intimate knowledge of the game. “What does he owe? Jamal is good for it.”
“No, you don’t understand,” the go-between said. “If he doesn’t pay now, these guys will kill Jamal.”
“Kill Jamal?!! He’s an NBA player. He gets paid as soon as the season starts. Give me the dude’s number.”
Ultimately he gave up his prized Mercedes to pay off the debt.
"I'm glad it happened then," Crawford said of his then-21-year-old self. "It's just a blip now, another learning experience. For me, my entire existence in the NBA has been about becoming a better decision-maker."
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
