For decades, the long NBA tours have been accompanied by a tradition as old as professional basketball itself: card games among teammates. However, few players managed those tables with a philosophy as unique as that of former Serbian center Vlade Divac -rs-.
The historic player for the Lakers, Hornets, and Kings recently revealed a curious rule he applied every time he sat down to play with his teammates. Although he frequently won significant sums of money, he never accepted keeping them.
Vlade Divac Won a Lot of Money Playing Poker While in the NBA. (Piratasdelbasket.net)
“We played cards during long flights to pass the time,” Divac explained in an interview. “I won a lot of money, but my principle was not to accept money from my teammates. If someone lost, I would ask for a favor and that settled the score.”
The anecdote reflects the atmosphere that prevailed in some of the most successful NBA teams during the 1990s and early 2000s. According to Divac, the rosters he was part of were highly professional, and the games functioned more as a camaraderie activity than as a source of income.
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The relationship between poker and basketball stars has been close for years. One of the best-known cases is Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan United States, the greatest player in NBA and world basketball history, is known for his passion for gambling, especially poker.
The connection also extends to the professional poker world. The record holder of 17 WSOP bracelets, Phil Hellmuth
Stories like Divac’s show a lesser-known side of poker: its ability to strengthen bonds and create social dynamics within highly competitive groups. Instead of accumulating winnings, the Serbian used cards as a tool to build relationships and maintain harmony within the locker room.
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