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The NBA‘s continued problems with gambling reached new heights on Thursday morning when the FBI arrested not only Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, but also Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups.
Both Rozier and Billups were arrested in connection with a federal gambling-related investigation, according to a pair of senior law enforcement officials, NBC News reports.
Rozier joins former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter and former Detroit Pistons wing Malik Beasley as players to come under investigation by the NBA for their role in illegal gambling. Although Beasley has since been cleared in the federal investigation, according to his lawyers.
Billups, however, is the first NBA coach to be swept up in the investigation.
According to a report from ABC News, Billups has been charged in an illegal poker operation tied to the Mafia.
The Blazers coach took over in 2024 after a lengthy career as a star for the Detroit Pistons and Denver Nuggets, among others. He helped lead Detroit to an NBA championship in 2004, when he was named NBA Finals MVP. The Colorado product was also a five-time All-Star across a 17-year career.
FBI Director Kash Patel is reportedly set to hold a press conference at 10 a.m. ET to announce charges against the two NBA stars and, presumably, take any questions from members of the media.
We will continue to update this article as more information becomes available.
FBI Reveals Details Of Illegal Gambling Investigation That Swept Up NBA Stars
The FBI states that it arrested 30 individuals on Thursday morning as part of an illegal gambling investigation.
Rozier, Billups, and former player Damon Jones are the three NBA names involved, in addition to members of criminal families around the country. Six of the individuals in total were involved in an illegal sports gambling scheme. Additionally, several defendants participated in a high-tech cheating scandal to steal millions from underground poker games.
According to Patel, four NBA teams: the Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, and Portland Trail Blazers were bet on as part of the illegal gambling operation.
Rozier and Jones allegedly provided inside information about NBA players and teams related to prop bets between 2022 and 2024.