The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: The NBA’s “Pete Rose” Gambling Scandal, Eliminate Two-Way Player Props? Wemby Is UNGUARDABLE

Date: October 24, 2025
Guests: Chris Mannix

Overview

In this episode, Colin Cowherd is joined by Chris Mannix to dissect the NBA’s burgeoning gambling scandal, dubbed the league's "Pete Rose moment," exploring the implications of illegal betting, prop bets, the ease of access to gambling, and the ripple effects on player integrity and fan trust. The conversation then transitions into awe at Victor Wembanyama’s historic performance, pondering his place among basketball’s all-time greats. The episode balances sober analysis of gambling’s risks with enthusiasm for the NBA’s future stars.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NBA Gambling Scandal: A "Pete Rose" Moment

• Allegations Against Chauncey Billups & Others

  • Billups, with a “sparkling” reputation, is allegedly implicated in both rigged poker games and possibly tipping gambling information as a coach ([5:19-6:30]).
  • Mannix:

    “That is the NBA's version of Pete Rose. You have an NBA head coach tipping off a gambler…” — Chris Mannix [06:11]

  • Implications: If proven, Billups may be banned from basketball and lose Hall of Fame status ([6:11-7:07]).

• Nature & Nuances of Gambling Addiction

  • Discussion about addiction not only as a matter of personal choice, but sometimes compulsion, even among those who are successful ([7:07-8:21]).
  • Rigged games, particularly with Billups' alleged knowledge, are called outright theft rather than a mere vice ([8:22-10:48]).
  • Mannix:

    “He’s a common criminal...It is the same thing as going into someone’s house and robbing them.” — Chris Mannix [10:48]

2. Legalization, Regulation, and Prop Bets

• How Regulation Aids Enforcement

  • Legal gambling flagged irregular bets instantly (e.g., on Terry Rozier), suggesting regulated markets actually enhance integrity ([14:14-15:28]).

  • Cowherd:

    "These stories are good actually because it fishes out the bad actors." — Colin Cowherd [13:31]

  • Mannix explains how sudden surges in betting activity are flagged, leading to quick detection ([15:03-15:22]).

• Accessibility and the Rise in Problem Gambling

  • The easier it is to gamble online, the harder it is for susceptible individuals to resist; increased accessibility, especially for young men, has raised rates of problem gambling ([15:59-16:51]).

  • Mannix:

    “It would be naive to dismiss the barrier of entry to gambling being easier than ever before...problematic gambling behavior, primarily in young men…will stay up.” — Chris Mannix [16:51]

  • Legalization is compared to failed prohibition attempts in history—proving people will always find ways to gamble ([17:38-17:39]).

3. Potential Solutions: Two-Way Player Props & Industry Responsibility

• Should Two-Way Prop Bets Exist?

  • Mannix and Cowherd contemplate limiting bet types, specifically removing the ability to bet the 'under' on prop markets for fringe players to mitigate manipulation ([19:55-21:46]).

  • Mannix:

    “Should I be able to bet the under on the eighth guy on the NBA team and his prop is like 6.5 points...? Maybe they shouldn’t be two way markets.” — Chris Mannix [19:55]

  • Cowherd:

    "Just no under bets because then it can be manipulated by the whole thing." — Colin Cowherd [21:00]

  • Consensus: Better to have flaws in the regulated market than push bettors (and cheaters) back to the shadows ([21:42]).

4. Wider Impact: Integrity, Fan Trust, and Behavioral Fallout

• Manipulation in Sports Beyond Basketball

  • Both agree basketball, especially at the college level, is easier to rig than other sports due to fewer players and less scrutiny ([27:48-29:36]).
  • In individual sports (tennis, golf, boxing), it's even easier for athletes to subtly manipulate outcomes ([29:36-30:58]).
  • Social media has greatly intensified harassment of athletes by disgruntled gamblers, representing a new and seemingly unsolvable consequence ([33:01-34:49]).

• Will Fan Trust Be Eroded?

  • Mannix raises the issue of public trust and wonders if there might be a tipping point in fan engagement if scandals escalate ([39:19-39:45]).
  • However, both believe live sports remain “bulletproof” due to cultural addiction ([40:08-40:53]).
  • "Even if a Super Bowl were fixed, fans would largely keep watching," is a shared sentiment.

• Conspiracy Theories in Sports

  • An increase in conspiracy-minded fans blaming outcomes on rigging, enhanced by gambling losses, is noted ([40:55-42:49]).

5. Victor Wembanyama: A Star Is Born

• Historic Performance Analysis

  • Wemby’s 40 points, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks, 0 turnovers in 30 minutes is hailed as one of NBA history’s most exceptional games ([59:45-61:13]).
  • Cowherd:

    “That’s one of the top five lines in league history...I’m not really sure how you defend it.” — Colin Cowherd [60:24, 62:53]

  • Both marvel at Wembanyama’s on-court maturity and unprecedented skill set: discussing whether he could win a dozen Defensive Player of the Year awards ([61:13-61:48]).

• Comparisons to Legends

  • Discussion on how Wemby might fare in hypothetical 1-on-1 matchups versus LeBron, Durant, or Jordan, with consensus that his combination of size and agility is generational ([61:53-64:17]).
  • Cowherd:

    “If you added six inches to Kevin Durant and had the same quickness… I’m not really sure how you defend it.” — Colin Cowherd [62:53]

  • Likelihood that Wemby will change what’s possible in basketball ([64:03-64:16]).

• Defining 'Best Player' in Sports

  • Mannix argues for a “scouting eye” definition: Wemby’s blend of defense and elite offense essentially makes him the league's best right now, regardless of traditional accolades ([66:19-68:53]).

  • “That guy last night, he’s going to have a quadruple double this year…It would not surprise me if Victor Wembanyama has multiple quadruple doubles this season at 22 years old.” — Chris Mannix [68:53-69:07]

6. NIL, NCAA, and Basketball Evolution

• NCAA’s Changing Landscape
  • Conversation moves to name, image, likeness (NIL) money, Europeans in NCAA, and bizarre eligibility loopholes (e.g., G League to college), with both hosts expressing confusion and concern ([73:41-77:38]).
  • Cowherd uses a vivid hot tub analogy to explain discomfort with blurred amateur/professional lines ([76:10, 76:43, 77:38]).

  • "You shouldn’t make out with your friend’s wife just because you’re half naked in a hot tub with a glass of champagne in Vail." — Colin Cowherd [77:38]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Rigged Poker Games:
  "He’s a common criminal...It is the same thing as going into someone’s house and robbing them." — Chris Mannix [10:48]

• On Prop Bets:
  “Should I be able to bet the under on the eighth guy on the NBA team and his prop is like 6.5 points...? Maybe they shouldn’t be two way markets.” — Chris Mannix [19:55]

• On Fan Addiction to Sports:
  “We are so addicted as a culture to live sports that…they operate as if they are bulletproof. Because they probably are.” — Chris Mannix [40:53]

• On Wemby's Uniqueness:
  "That’s one of the top five lines in league history...I’m not really sure how you defend it." — Colin Cowherd [60:24, 62:53]

• On Defensive Impact:
  “How many times did Deion Sanders get attacked in his prime? …His interception percentage based on targeted throws was through the roof." — Colin Cowherd [71:41]

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:19–07:07 | Allegations against Chauncey Billups | | 14:14–15:28 | How regulation caught recent NBA betting scandals quickly | | 15:59–16:51 | Discussion of app-based gambling addiction and risk for young men | | 19:55–21:46 | Proposed solution: banning two-way prop bets on fringe players | | 27:48–30:58 | Why basketball & individual sports are especially susceptible to manipulation | | 33:01–34:49 | Athletes harassed by gamblers online (parlays, DMs) | | 39:19–40:53 | Do scandals threaten fan trust or does sports addiction make leagues “bulletproof”? | | 59:45–61:13 | Recapping Wembanyama’s historic performance | | 61:53–64:17 | Comparing Wemby to basketball legends, discussing his defensive dominance | | 66:19–69:07 | Debate on what "best player" means & Wemby's future | | 73:41–77:38 | NIL, eligibility loopholes, and NCAA’s fast-evolving business |

Tone

• Conversational, opinionated, candid: Cowherd and Mannix are forthright with their takes, unafraid to challenge "old guard" media conventions and blend heavy topics (scandal, addiction) with basketball-geek enthusiasm.
• Clever and informal analogies: (e.g., the hot tub story to illustrate NCAA discomfort).

Summary Takeaways

• The NBA’s ongoing gambling scandals expose real vulnerabilities and challenge the sport’s integrity, but modern regulatory tools actually make detection faster than ever.
• Basketball’s structure (especially prop bets) makes it susceptible to manipulation; limiting certain kinds of bets might help protect the game.
• Legalized gambling isn’t going away—prohibition just pushes it underground.
• Social media has created new problems: constant fan harassment of athletes tied to betting losses.
• Victor Wembanyama’s rise marks a transformational moment—he might already be basketball’s most unique force, blurring lines of possibility in the sport.
• NCAA basketball is in flux, fueled by NIL, eligibility rules, and globalization—leaving even experts bewildered by its future direction.

This summary captures the substance, memorable commentary, and lively tone of Colin Cowherd and Chris Mannix’s discussion, providing a comprehensive resource for anyone seeking to understand this episode’s core themes and talking points.