Michele Roberts open to exploring legalized sports betting

Michele Roberts isn't yet taking a stance on the possibility of legalized sports betting, but it sounds like the National Basketball Players Association's executive director is open to exploring how the NBA might benefit from it.

"Everyone has known for years that there is a ton of money being made that's not being enjoyed, frankly, by the people who are creating the games, both the owners and the players," Roberts said Monday on ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike show.

"And so if there's a way - and I haven't talked to (Commissioner Adam) Silver about this, either - to funnel what is otherwise income that should be enjoyed by the folks who are creating it, in a way that doesn't harm the game, then I frankly don't see any reason why we can't explore it," Roberts added.

While the NBA is one of a number of leagues fighting New Jersey's bid to allow sports betting at its casinos and racetracks, Silver has gone on record with his support of legalized, strictly regulated sports betting.

Roberts said she's begun to talk to players about the possibility.

"I know all the negatives that up to today have kept gambling outside of the realm of what is appropriate in terms of sports," Roberts said. "But let's not ignore the big elephant in the room. There's a lot of money being made."