The NBA has been thrown into crisis after two well-known figures — Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier — were arrested on Thursday in a nationwide federal investigation into illegal gambling and high-stakes poker scams.
The arrests, just days into the new NBA season, have sent shockwaves across the league, with one club executive describing the mood as changing from “celebration to fear.”
“Who else is involved? It’s a nightmare for the league,” the executive told NBC News.
What happened?
Federal investigators say the arrests are part of a wider operation into insider sports betting and rigged poker games linked to organised crime.
According to court documents:
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Terry Rozier has been charged with insider betting, accused of sharing secret injury information to help gamblers place bets.
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Chauncey Billups, a former NBA Finals MVP and current Portland coach, is accused of providing inside information about a Trail Blazers game in March 2023, allegedly telling others that key players would be held out so they could bet against his team.
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Damon Jones, a former NBA player and coach, is named in both investigations for allegedly leaking injury updates about LeBron James and Anthony Davis before those details were made public.
Billups, who last played in 2014 and became Portland’s coach in 2021, was referred to in court papers as “Co-Conspirator 8.”
Strong denials from Billups’ lawyer
Billups’ lawyer, Chris Heywood, said the claims are false.
“Chauncey Billups has never and would never gamble on basketball, provide insider information, or betray the trust of his players or the league,” Heywood said. “Anyone who knows him knows he is a man of integrity.”
Widespread shock across the NBA
Reactions have ranged from disbelief to anger.
“It’s shocking,” said Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who also heads the NBA Coaches Association. “Just yesterday, we were reminded by the league about the gambling rules.”
The FBI confirmed that more arrests could follow, calling the current charges “just the tip of the iceberg.”
NBA’s history with gambling scandals
This is not the first time the league has faced gambling troubles. Last year, Jontay Porter of the Toronto Raptors was banned for life for betting-related offences.
The NBA said it is reviewing the latest indictments and is taking the matter “with the utmost seriousness.”
The Portland Trail Blazers have placed Billups on leave and announced that assistant coach Tiago Splitter will take over coaching duties while the investigation continues.
As one team executive summed it up:
“This isn’t just about Rozier or Billups — it’s about trust. Fans need to believe the NBA is clean and fair.”