Sports and poker commentator Nick Wright is betting big on the Minnesota Timberwolves. The host of Fox Sports’ “First Things First” wagered $10,000 on the squad to win the NBA championship.
Just three months ago, Wright also joined the No Gamble No Future commentary team.
The bet had odds of 200-to-1. Thus, Wright faces a potential windfall of $2 million if Minnesota can make that happen. With just eight teams left in the playoffs, the Timberwolves are tied 2-2 against the No. 2-seeded San Antonio Spurs in the second round.
The bet came about during a visit to Las Vegas that included some time on No Gamble No Future. Some winnings at the tables might now be parlayed into an even bigger payday if the Wolves can come through.
“I was in Vegas to go to a fight with Nick Schulman, who happens to be literally the world’s best poker player,” Wright told the New York Post.
“He also happens to be the sharpest boxing guy in the world. We had sick seats for the Benavidez fight. We’re in a gambling chat with (poker player) Taylor von Kriegenbergh, also known as ‘TVK.’ and another person. On Friday night, I get to Vegas, I play cards until late. I win. I have a little extra money in my pocket.”
Casino Had To Authorize Wright’s Wager
After winning on Friday and then again on Saturday, Wright dropped the eight-figure futures wager at the Aria sportsbook, along with some wagers on the boxing match and the Kentucky Derby.
“(The Timberwolves are) already in Round 2, and I’m like, ‘That’s just wrong, that can’t be right,’” Wright said on seeing the T-wolves’ odds. “I check the betting odds, and all of the sports betting apps have between 150 to 200/1. That’s wrong. The Lakers are 28/1, have to play (the Thunder), they don’t have their best player.
“I saw five years ago Giannis (Antetokounmpo) suffer the same injury during Game 4 of the (Eastern) Conference finals (as Anthony Edwards). He started Game 1 of the Finals eight days later. I think Ant Edwards will play at some point this series.”
Schulman and von Kriegenbergh quickly agreed to be part of the bet and management agreed to accept the wager.
“The lady at the window was also stunned,” Wright told the Post. “She said, ‘I have to get authorization on this. Anything that pays out over a million, I need authorization.’”
The funds for the big bet came after an appearance in the PokerGO Studio, which included playing with 17-time World Series of Poker champion Phil Hellmuth.
“I play a lot of real poker,” Wright said. “I played in “No Gamble No Future” on stream. Bought in for $25K, cashed out for $162K. I play all of the mixed games and high-stakes, no-limit games. Coolest perks of the job are a lot of the best games in Vegas, these days, are held at private games inside the casino.”
Odds Drop For T-Wolves
As the Minneota-San Antonio series plays out, Timberwolves fans got some good news on May 3 when Edwards was upgraded to questionable. Many had thought the shooting guard would miss the series, but he went on to play in Game 1.
The odds for Minnesota to win the championship have since fallen to around 80 to 1 after dipping as low as 30 to 1. However, the Spurs are still a heavy favorite to win the series at around -460. Wright said he could have sold the ticket for $65,000 but has chosen to hang on to the wager.
In the Thunder-Lakers series, Oklahoma City leads the series 3-1. The Thunder are the favorites to win the title for the second-straight year at -180.
Crazy sports bets have been commonplace lately.
A Florida bettor recently hit a grand slam on a six-leg home run parlay that paid out almost $2 million. In December, another Florida bettor cashed in on a 20-leg college basketball parlay, betting a single dollar for a $340,000 payday.
Photo courtesy of PokerGO/Antonio Abrego
