Leaving a tip can be a tricky practice, as opinions differ on how much to leave or whether to give one. While those working in the service industry appreciate such gestures, some consumers balk at being expected to pay more on their bill.
One former NBA player who was called “Trash” for leaving a $13.97 tip on a $487.13 bill was Andre Roberson. The incident occurred in 2017, when the defensive-minded wingman reportedly received a three-year, $30 million deal from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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Roberson pushed back
As mentioned, the subject of tipping is a prickly one. Some argue that they don’t have to leave a tip when all a server did was hand them a bottle, which is precisely what Roberson claimed in response to the allegation against him.
“You shouldn’t have tipped it was just a bottle in a bar …there was no service ..now I can see if it was a club! You Reaching bro,” Andre posted on X.
However, some argue that tipping is a necessary part of the service industry and should be factored into the overall cost of dining out. Others say that tipping encourages good service and rewards hard-working servers.
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That said, Roberson’s $13.97 tip is nothing compared to what the GOAT, Michael Jordan, allegedly gave a waitress during a private gambling session in Sin City. According to Rich Strafella, a former Hard Rock Hotel executive, MJ and another sports icon, hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, were playing in a private salon when Jordan ordered a cocktail. Once the drink was handed to him, Jordan gave her a five dollar chip, which Gretzky noticed.
“Wayne took it off the cocktail waitress’ tray, handed it back to Michael, grabbed a hundred dollar chip from Michael’s stack, and placed it on the cocktail waitress’ tray. Then he said, ‘That’s how we pose in Las Vegas, Michael,'” Strafella recalled.
Considering that MJ has billions of dollars in his bank account, he can certainly afford to tip a waitress more than $5.
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Related: Nick Wright blasts Victor Wembanyama for his ethical and savvy take on basketball: “I don’t need to be talked down to by a 20-year-old French kid”
Shaq was a great tipper
While Roberson and Jordan were hesitant tippers, one iconic center never hesitated to give as much as he could to the waiters and servers he encountered. That man was none other than Shaquille O’Neal.
“Like, I like to leave great tips. I’ve been asking for the last 20 years, ‘How much do you want?’ And like the people say like, ‘No, no, no, I can’t answer that,'” Shaq split. “One girl got smart and said, ‘I want 10 thousand.’ ‘Well, I can’t give you 10 thousand, but I’ll get you one.’ She was smart and I was like, ‘I f—k you’”.
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Another All-Star who did not fail to acknowledge the efforts of hotel staff members for their guests during the 2020 Orlando bubble was Russell Westbrook, who tipped $8,000 before leaving the hotel where he and his team stayed.
“They took care of us a lot. They took the time and energy to do their job at a high level. That was the right thing. I like to do the right thing,” Westbrook pointed out.
Tipping is never mandatory, but for NBA stars who make far more than service industry earners in a lifetime, sharing a piece of their fortune to express appreciation and gratitude is a small gesture that goes a long way.
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Related: How Michael Jordan learned hard lessons from a record $168 million divorce
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on December 28, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add the Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.