The world of professional basketball was rocked Thursday morning when the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice announced the arrests of multiple current and former NBA players and coaches in connection to a massive illegal sports betting and poker investigation.
Among those arrested were Portland Trail Blazers head coach and NBA Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former Cavaliers player and assistant coach Damon Jones. The three were among 31 individuals charged in what FBI Director Kash Patel called “a historic investigation into sports rigging and illegal gambling that spanned 11 states and multiple NBA franchises.”
The details are developing rapidly, but the charges include conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said in a press conference that two indictments have been filed — one focused on a sports corruption case linked to prop bet manipulation, and another tied to rigged, high-stakes poker games allegedly involving former professional athletes.
According to court documents, Rozier’s alleged role connects to a 2023 Hornets game in which he exited early, raising suspicion over unusual betting patterns on his individual stats. It was reportedly during that March 23 matchup against the Pelicans that Rozier played under 10 minutes and then left with a foot injury. But the betting world noticed something odd: a surge in wagers placed specifically on Rozier’s “under” stat lines. Some sportsbooks even froze bets on his prop lines that night.
The NBA investigated at the time and did not punish Rozier, but now, federal prosecutors are saying the incident may have been part of a broader scheme. Rozier is one of six people charged in the NBA-specific betting case. His agent, Jim Trusty, blasted the arrest, saying prosecutors previously labeled Rozier a “subject,” not a “target,” and criticized what he described as a publicity-driven arrest early Thursday morning at an Orlando hotel.
Rozier has not spoken publicly since the arrest. He did not play in the Heat’s season opener against the Magic on Wednesday, despite being cleared to suit up. The 31-year-old is currently in the final year of a $96 million contract.
Chauncey Billups’ alleged involvement, while unrelated to the betting side of the case, is tied to an illegal poker scheme connected to organized crime, according to prosecutors. Billups was arrested in Portland Thursday morning, just hours after coaching the Blazers in their season-opening loss to Minnesota. Investigators say the poker operation took place during the period between Billups’ retirement in 2014 and the start of his coaching career in 2021.
The NBA, still dealing with the fallout from the Jontay Porter lifetime ban over betting violations, finds itself once again under scrutiny as sports gambling becomes more mainstream and accessible. Commissioner Adam Silver recently commented that the league is working with sportsbooks to pull back on certain types of prop bets, especially for lesser-known players, to reduce opportunities for manipulation.
The investigation, which reportedly spans the Hornets, Trail Blazers, Raptors, and Lakers organizations, continues to unfold. Damon Jones, who was charged in both the poker and sports betting indictments, is one of three individuals involved in both schemes.
FBI Director Kash Patel has announced the takedown of a massive illegal gambling ring involving coordination between NBA players, coaches, and several mafia crime families.
The operation stretched across 11 states and spanned several years, resulting in more than 30 arrests so… pic.twitter.com/9haLOUkX77
— Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) October 23, 2025
The Department of Justice described the cases as years in the making, with a wide web of players, coaches, and organized crime figures allegedly working to profit from inside information and rigged outcomes. Victims may have lost tens of millions of dollars as a result.
Rozier and Billups are expected to be arraigned in Brooklyn at a future date. For now, both remain in legal limbo as the sports world — and the NBA — braces for what may be only the beginning of a much deeper story.
