FBI Arrests NBA Coach and Player Over Gambling Allegations

The NBA is facing its biggest sports betting scandal to date.

The FBI has arrested the Portland Trail Blazers head coach, Chauncey Billups, along with Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, over illegal gambling allegations. The arrests are a culmination of a years long investigation into the arrests, which stemmed from the conviction of former NBA player Jontay Porter. While the cases are not necessarily linked, the FBI did say they were “related.” 

The charges against Billups allege that he was tipping off associates on the status of his Blazers players for a given game. This was information that wasn’t available to the public or sportsbooks, giving those bettors an unfair edge.

Billups is also alleged to have been involved in an illegal poker game with connections to four mafia families. The former NBA Champion is accused of using his celebrity to lure others into these poker games, where sophisticated cheating tactics ensured they would lose.

Rozier had been under investigation for a long time, leading some to wonder if the allegations were false. However, the charges confirm that the FBI found Rozier intentionally altered the outcome of his own player prop bets. That includes a game in which he exited early due to an injury, an injury the FBI believes he faked.

Malik Beasley, who is also under investigation, was not arrested.

Why This Scandal Hits Different

Terry Rozier has been a star in the NBA, but Chauncey Billups has been one of the biggest names in the sport of the last few decades. He built a massive fanbase while leading the Detroit Pistons to a title and was building a strong reputation as a coach. That reputation made the allegations against him even more shocking.

In addition to his impressive resume, Billups was also serving as a head coach. That is someone who has inside information on every player and the power to determine how much each will play. His strategies can change the outcome of a game far more than a single player, making this scandal far more dangerous. 

While the others involved in this illegal gambling ring will all be in the headlines over the coming months, expect Billups's name to remain in the spotlight.