The first major sentencing in the widening NBA betting scandal occurred this week, with Timothy McCormack receiving two years in prison. A federal judge in Brooklyn handed down the sentence after McCormack admitted to placing bets using inside information, part of a broader scheme allegedly involving former NBA players Jontay Porter and Terry Rozier.
Prosecutors described McCormack as a key figure in the operation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney David Berman noting, “Without people like the defendant, these schemes can’t work.”
Addiction and Accountability
In court, McCormack attributed his actions to a lifelong battle with gambling addiction. “I’ve struggled with a gambling addiction for more than half my life,” he told the judge.
Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall acknowledged his personal struggles but emphasized the severity of compromising sports integrity.
He has an addiction… I don’t believe the conduct Mr. McCormack engaged in defines him.
However, she ultimately agreed with the prosecution that the crime struck at the heart of the sport. “There is no question this is a serious crime. Sports matters to me as an individual, as it should to society.”
Wider Implications for the NBA
Timothy McCormack will begin his sentence on April 20, followed by supervised release where gambling is strictly prohibited. Interestingly, the judge did not ban him from visiting casinos, reasoning that “gambling is available on anybody’s phone.”
The case continues to unfold, with Jontay Porter already banned for life from the NBA and awaiting sentencing. Meanwhile, former Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier faces charges of wire fraud and money laundering related to bets on his own performance. He has pleaded not guilty and is due back in court in March.
The scandal has prompted the NBA to reinforce its stance on gambling risks. A recent league memo stated, “Every effort must be made to ensure that players… are fully aware of the dire risks that gambling can impose upon their careers.”
