Watch the full interview now as a VladTV Youtube Member: Click Here
Part 1: Michael Cooper on His Stepfather Killing His Mom's Boyfriend, Mom Leaving Family to Escape
--------
NBA Hall of Famer Michael Cooper expressed shock over the recent FBI arrest of his friend and fellow NBA legend Chauncey Billups, who was charged in a wide-ranging illegal gambling scheme linked to four Mafia families—the Bonanno, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese. The indictment includes 34 people and implicates multiple NBA teams, including the Lakers, in underground poker games rigged through advanced technology to steal millions in New York.
Cooper emphasized his surprise, describing Billups as “low key” and “calm,” and reiterated the presumption of innocence amid the serious allegations. He lamented the involvement of athletes in gambling scandals, comparing the situation to historic sports corruption cases like the 1919 Black Sox scandal. As Billups and others face legal challenges, Cooper hopes for the best but warns of the damaging impact such controversies have on players and the sport’s integrity.
