Basketball hasn’t seen this kind of drama since that chaotic family pickup game that got you kicked out of the YMCA.
As the NBA’s regular season gets underway, the league is reeling from two major gambling scandals that have rocked its foundations. On Thursday, the FBI arrested Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, former player and coach Damon Jones, and Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach Chauncey Billups over alleged ties to illegal betting operations.
According to federal prosecutors, Rozier and Jones allegedly shared confidential player information, including injury updates, with individuals who used the intel to place high-value bets.
In one instance, Rozier reportedly told an associate he would leave a game early due to injury. That insider tip allegedly led to a prop bet that paid out hundreds of thousands of dollars — money that Rozier and his associate are accused of splitting.
The indictment also claims that Jones leaked the injury status of LeBron James before a February 2023 matchup, allowing bettors to cash in. Federal officials say bets were placed on several teams, including the Hornets, Trail Blazers, Lakers, and Raptors — though one FBI spokesperson accidentally called the Raptors the “Toronto Rangers” during a press briefing.
In a separate case, prosecutors allege that Billups and Jones were used as “celebrity bait” in a mafia-linked underground poker ring. The games were reportedly rigged with X-ray scanners, hidden cameras, and marked cards — all part of an elaborate con that targeted wealthy players.
The FBI says more than 30 people were arrested across 11 states, with total losses estimated in the tens of millions. “This was organised deception on a national scale,” said FBI Director Kash Patel.
In response, the NBA — which has lucrative sponsorship deals with betting giants like FanDuel and DraftKings — announced that Rozier and Billups have been suspended indefinitely pending investigation.
Rozier’s legal team has dismissed the case as a “publicity stunt” and vowed to fight the charges. Jones and Billups have not yet commented.
It’s not exactly the opening act the NBA wanted as it deepens its partnership with the gambling industry — but it’s certainly a reminder that even in professional basketball, the line between competition and corruption can be dangerously thin.
