Why the 2026 NBA Awards Could Be Vulnerable to Gambling Influence

The NBA playoffs will be engulfed in a gambling controversy this season. You heard it here first.

No, it won’t be because LaMelo Ball tells his dad he’s so upset about the referees’ favoritism of the Celtics, he’s going to pull himself from the lineup in the middle of the first quarter of Game 4, citing a sore shoulder.

And, no, it won’t be because Doc Rivers is seen in a booth outside of Churchill Downs, selling “Doc’s Locks” for the Kentucky Derby.

Rather, it’ll be because of Cooper Flagg.

You see, Flagg remains about an even-money choice to win NBA Rookie of the Year honors. This despite not having the type of season that was supposed to make him a run-away winner.

This has opened the door for a longshot to sneak in and steal the prize.

And by prize, I’m talking about the 100-to-1 that’s out there to be made if VJ Edgecombe is the guy who gets the most votes.

Let me start out by saying: While he’s exceeded expectations and cemented his status as a foundation piece in the 76ers’ future, there’s no way Edgecombe should win the award. He trails Flagg in total points, rebounds and assists even though the former Duke star has missed a dozen games.

In fact, Philly’s hotshot guard shouldn’t even finish second. Flagg’s college teammate, Kon Knueppel, has had such a surprisingly productive -- and healthy -- rookie season, he’s basically played himself into a co-favorite.

But to dismiss Edgecombe’s chances is to not understand where the NBA is most vulnerable.

Its Weakest Link.

Is it a big deal if Ball tells his dad to dump on the under on his point total? Or for Rivers to tout Further Ado at the Derby?

Absolutely not. Even if LaVar Ball were to share his secret with all his friends, and Rivers were to persuade his mint-julep-guzzling buddies to hop aboard, the bright lights of Las Vegas and Louisville wouldn’t even flicker.

But that would never happen.

You see, this is what the NBA doesn’t understand about gambling: If the risk is greater than the reward, it’s a bad bet.

There’s no way LaMelo Ball would risk hundreds of millions of dollars so his dad’s barber could win a few bucks. And there’s no way Rivers, in light of what happened to Chauncey Billups for his involvement in a seemingly tame charade, would be seen with a tout sheet in his hands, even if it were perfectly legal.

They’re already rich, and thus they represent the NBA’s Strongest Link.

If you’re looking for the potential source of a gambling mess, you have to scrape the other end of the financial barrel.

That’s not the players or coaches. They’re out of a fixer’s price range. It’s not even the refs, who have it pretty good these days, too.

When you look at the bottom of the NBA food chain, you see some familiar faces. Wrinkled, but familiar.

Sportswriters.

Remember us? We used to live a life of luxury – six-day trips to Boston, New York, Philly and DC on the company’s dime. Bottomless bacon double cheeseburgers covered by expense accounts, producing receipts that were tax write-offs. We accrued so many hotel and airline rewards points -- without paying a cent -- the entire off-season golf excursion to Scotland was paid for.

Year after year.

Alas, that was so long ago, Donald Trump was rolling out the red carpet for US.

Today, our cash cow – the newspaper industry – is dead. So long Chicago and St. Elmo’s. Tax refunds, Mile-High Clubs and St. Andrews.

We have little left to boast about. But there is ONE THING …

We still decide who wins the NBA awards.

And did I mention we’re vulnerable?

Offer a down-on-his-luck scribe a wad of C-notes and you just might buy yourself a Rookie of the Year vote.

A hundred media members will decide this year’s winner, to be announced during the playoffs. Talk about an election ripe to be rigged.

It could only happen if there were competition for an award, like there is among the rookies. Flagg and Kneuppel, and Edgecombe to a lesser extent, have assured that.

If there’s a three-way split, it would take only 34 votes to get the hardware. Get 40 and it’s a virtual landslide.

If Edgecombe, who has averaged 31.7 points in his last three games, were to live in the 30s for a playoff contender over the final 10 games, it might be enough to get 20 bullheaded sportswriters to demonstrate their distaste for stuffy Duke guys.

Then it would only take, ahem, convincing 20 more to steal it. Even if the asking price were a grand a vote, that’s just a $20,000 investment.

One $200 bet on a 100-1 shot – a wager at which no FanDuel exec would bat an eye – would cover that cost.

The second wager at the competition next door – and all thereafter across 40 states where casinos offer free rooms for $200 bettors – would be pure profit.

All while the NBA had its eyes on the Ball family.

Did somebody say free rooms?

You gotta love sportswriters.