Michael Franzese (Photo via TMZ Sports)

Former Mafia Caporegime Michael Franzese has hit the NBA with the cold, hard truth, telling the league it has itself to blame for the embarrassing scandal that rocked the sports world this week.

It was announced on Thursday morning that Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat point guard Terry Rozier, and former Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Damon Jones were all aʀʀᴇsted as part of FBI investigations into gambling.

FBI director Kash Patel would later host a press conference in New York, revealing that the operations spanned four years and 11 cities, with 34 aʀʀᴇsts made as of Thursday and possibly more to come.

Patel also revealed that four of the five Italian crime families that ran New York before the RICO Act ripped the city from their stranglehold were involved in an illegal poker scheme that conned people out of millions.

He named the Bonanno, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese families as conspirators.

Michael Franzese Says The NBA Called This On Itself

Adam Silver (Image Credits: Imagn)
The Colombo family was the only one that wasn’t implicated. Michael, who ran a crew with them back in the day, joined TMZ Live, where he ripped the NBA for partnering with betting platforms, unlike Stephen A. Smith, who blamed Donald Trump.

“The more access you have to gambling, the more people are going to get involved in it,” he said. “And the more people are going to get in trouble. There’s no question about it.”

“You can’t give people access like that.”

Franzese also noted that even college athletes use gambling as “an extension of their competitive nature,” so nothing good can come from leagues getting into bed with bookmakers.

The cases involving Billups and Rozier are said to be separate, but with an overlap, as Jones is alleged to have had a hand in both.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.