"I wouldn't let clowns make or break my day": Former Michael Jordan teammate reacts to Lamar Jackson's parlay complaints
NFL star Lamar Jackson took aim at fans complaining about their parlays this week, prompting a response from Michael Jordan's former teammate Ron Harper.
The rise of sports betting has caused plenty of frustrations among pro athletes across a wide range of sports. In the past, NBA players have been open about the harassment they've received from fans regarding their bets and parlays.
This week, Baltimore Ravens NFL star Lamar Jackson took to X to take aim at fans who complain about players negatively impacting their parlays. Jackson then spoke about the situation with media members earlier in the week, drawing the attention of Michael Jordan's former teammate Ron Harper.
As Jackson explained:
“[They’re] saying some BS. … You gotta understand, we’re human too.
“All our life we play football. We got to the highest level, the professional level, to win games, not to help people’s parlay. We’re not betting on the games. We can’t even bet on games. So we’re not worried about that. I don’t believe we’re going to into games worried about stats either. We’re worried about the W column.”
In response, Michael Jordan's former teammate Ron Harper spoke on Jackson's perspective in the replies, writing:
"I wouldn't let clowns make or break my day.."
The complaint from Jackson is the most recent example of players dealing with fans calling them out for negatively impacting their parlays.
"It's getting outrageous" - PJ Tucker and other NBA players weigh in on frustrations stemming from betting
While Michael Jordan's former teammate Ron Harper wouldn't have let fans' complaints bother him, many NBA fans have been left frustrated and annoyed with bettors.
With the rise of sports betting in the US, and more and more sportsbooks emerging, an increasing number of fans have gotten involved with apps such as FanDuel and DraftKings.
Because of that, players have started speaking out about the fans they've dealt with, and the criticisms they've faced due to their play negatively impacting parlays and various bets.
As PJ Tucker explained in an interview with The Athletic last season:
“It’s getting outrageous. It’s getting kind of crazy. Even in the arenas, hearing fans yelling at guys about their bets. It’s unreal. It’s a problem. I think it’s something that’s got to be addressed.”
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton expressed a similar sentiment while speaking with media members last season:
“To half the world, I’m just helping them make money on DraftKings or whatever. I’m a prop. You know what I mean? That’s what my social media mostly consists of.”
Despite the complaints from players and personnel around the league, NBA coverage is frequently accompanied by props and bets promoted by sites like FanDuel and DraftKings.
As we can see from Lamar Jackson's comments, it sounds as though the NFL is dealing with a similar situation.