Inside the NBA Scandal: How Billups and Rozier Ended Up in the FBI’s Crosshairs

The NBA world has been rocked by a bombshell: Chauncey Billups, head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, and Terry Rozier, guard for the Miami Heat, have been arrested as part of two large-scale federal investigations that uncovered an extensive system of illegal sports betting and rigged poker games run with the backing of the American mafia.

Both have been suspended immediately by their respective teams, while the league announced it has launched an internal review to safeguard “the integrity of the game.”

According to authorities, the investigation involved 34 individuals across 11 states and exposed a network of fraud and money laundering worth tens of millions of dollars. FBI Director Kash Patel called it “one of the most extensive cases of sports corruption to emerge since online betting was legalized in the United States.”

Although the two cases are separate, they reveal disturbing ties between organized crime circles and prominent NBA figures.

The Charges Against Terry Rozier

The Miami Heat guard is allegedly involved in an illegal betting operation based on the use of confidential information obtained from NBA players and coaches. Investigators claim that Rozier, along with other accomplices, provided professional gamblers with inside data capable of influencing the outcome of certain bets, receiving cash payments or a share of the profits in return.

His name had already surfaced in 2023, when several betting platforms reported unusual movements on his personal stats before a game between the Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans. On that occasion, Rozier played only ten minutes before leaving the court with a supposed foot injury – after 30 suspicious bets were placed in less than an hour.

The Charges Against Chauncey Billups

The Blazers coach, on the other hand, is accused of playing a key role in a separate case involving underground poker games. Federal investigators allege that the former Finals MVP was one of the “familiar faces” used to lure unsuspecting players – known as “fish” in poker slang – into rigged games where sophisticated cheating technology was employed: tampered shuffling machines, hidden cameras in chip cases, and even special glasses capable of reading opponents’ cards.

According to prosecutors, the operation was backed by some of New York’s most powerful mafia families – the Bonanno, Gambino, Lucchese, and Genovese clans – who used intimidation and violence to collect gambling debts once the “fish” had lost. One indictment claims that Billups received $50,000 for his participation in a fixed poker tournament in Las Vegas in 2020.

Both Billups and Rozier face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. They will appear before federal judges in their respective states – Oregon and Florida. Meanwhile, the NBA has described the allegations as “extremely serious,” pledging full cooperation with authorities.

We are reviewing the federal charges announced today. Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups have been placed on immediate leave from their teams, and we will continue to cooperate with the appropriate authorities. We take these allegations very seriously, and the integrity of our game remains our highest priority

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A Wider Web of Involvement

The case also involves other former NBA figures. Damon Jones, ex-player and former assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers, is among those arrested. Investigators allege that he provided bettors with insider information during his tenure as an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers. Prosecutors say that several individuals – including Jones himself – were involved in both branches of the investigation, highlighting how deeply the two criminal networks were intertwined.

The defense teams for Billups and Rozier have already begun to respond. Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, stated that his client “is not a gambler” and “looks forward to proving his innocence.” Billups – inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2024 after a long playing career and four seasons coaching the Trail Blazers – has not yet made any public statement.

Betting, Business, and the Integrity of the Game

This scandal brings the increasingly sensitive issue of sports and gambling back to the forefront. In recent years, the NBA – like other professional leagues – has entered official partnerships with bookmakers and betting platforms, creating new revenue streams but also new vulnerabilities.

Commissioner Adam Silver recently admitted that the league is “learning as we go,” seeking to minimize manipulation risks, particularly with prop bets – wagers tied to individual player stats, which are easier to influence.

Now, with the arrest of two prominent figures like Billups and Rozier, the NBA faces not only a federal investigation but also a severe blow to its credibility. The shadow of corruption threatens to hang over the entire season, at a time when the line between entertainment, money, and sport appears thinner than ever.