"It's all about attracting eyeballs" - Kendrick Perkins explains why sports betting is good for the NBA
We live in a world where sports are connected with betting and casinos in one way or another. It is just the reality of the modern day and age. However, instead of looking at this situation as predominantly negative, in the sense that it could more often lead to manipulated game outcomes and shady side bets, Kendrick Perkins, the retired big man turned analyst, suggested that it's not all that dark when it comes to placing a bet here and there.
Perkins emphasized that this can have a major positive effect on viewership because, more often than not, someone who placed a bet or two will tune in to watch a game that might not even be on their radar without it.
"Yes!" Big Perk quickly answered when asked about whether or not it's good to have betting around the NBA.
"But outside of the money, you wanna do everything in your power to attract eyeballs. And if you have sports betting and the fanbase, and people are betting whatever. You know, prop bets, and this guy is going to get 10+ rebounds, or this guy is going to have under five and a half assists, or whatever the case may be. Guess what? People are going to tune in to the Pacers-Hornets game. It's all about attracting eyeballs," the retired big man explained his position.
"It's making people watch television. It's making people watch basketball," Perkins pointed out.
It's a billion-dollar business
Sports betting companies have slowly but surely taken over the sports world. In 2024 alone, the American sports betting industry pulled in close to $14 billion in revenue, with the American Gaming Association reporting around $150 billion worth of bets placed over the past year.
Ever since this was made possible for legal sports gambling less than a decade ago, the NBA hasn't exactly been shy about getting its hands involved.
As for the 2023-24 season, the league pocketed over $160 million from all the betting deals, and that was an incredible 10% more than just a season prior. And while this is just a slice of the NBA's sponsorship cake, it is a piece that is rapidly growing, and, quite frankly, the Association is not letting it go anytime soon. And why would it?Making a regular matchup more fun?
It's also true that more than we've ever seen before, players have been caught red-handed in suspicious activities involving, let's say, manipulating props. Terry Rozier and Malik Beasley, for example, have recently been linked to questionable situations that cast a shadow around the whole issue. While it is not 100% proven, those rumors alone show how close this whole thing is to being on the verge of legality.
The reality is that betting isn't leaving the sports world anytime soon. The stakes, yes, literal stakes, are too high. But if it's done within moderation and within the boundaries of what's legal, it can indeed enhance the viewing experience. Cooking up a parlay with your buddy can make a random Tuesday night game far more entertaining.
Perkins' example of the Indiana Pacers vs. the Charlotte Hornets game, sorry to both teams and their fans, perfectly illustrates the point. Without a wager, that matchup might fly completely under the radar. However, with just a few prop bets on rebounds, assists or points, suddenly there's a reason to watch every possession like it's a Game 7 of the NBA Finals. It might not be good in the long run, but hey, it does bring more people (and money) in. That's the hook, and it's exactly what Big Perk was talking about.
But as long as it stays within legal limits, Perkins believes it can be a tool to bring more fans to the game and in today's competitive entertainment landscape, that's no small thing.This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
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