Sports Gambling

NBA coach Chauncey Billups and NBA player Terry Rozier were arrested on October 23rd due to gambling related charges as a part of an FBI investigation. Both were put on leave from their respective teams, the Portland Trail Blazers and Miami Heat, and will not be paid while on leave. 

Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones was also arrested in this investigation, along with 32 others. These others include members of organized crime families, organizers of rigged poker games, and other participants in the online sports betting scandal.

According to Federal prosecutors, the defendants gained access to information that only NBA coaches and players had, which would probably affect the outcome of games or how players played, and provided that information to other co-conspirators for a fee or some of the betting profits.

"Let's not mince words. This is the insider trading saga for the NBA, that's what this is,” FBI director Kash Patel said.

Billups is a Hall of Famer, and was the 2004 NBA Finals MVP, as he helped the Detroit Pistons defeat the Los Angeles Lakers. Jones won a championship with the Miami Heat in 2006. Rozier has played 665 games in the NBA, averaging 13.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. 

“I think that was something that was just outright stupid by both of them. They know the consequences and know how many people have gotten caught before. Even if it’s once it’s over for their careers. I think it was what had to happen and should serve as a warning to anyone else,” NHS sophomore Kyle Duncan said.

Some suspect Rozier faked injuries to help gamblers he gave insider information to. In a road game playing the New Orleans Pelicans in March 2023, Rozier exited the game early, seemingly having been injured after a jumpshot. Federal prosecutors claim Rozier was faking this injury, as it did not seem Rozier landed after the jumpshot in a way that would cause injury.

“If the player says he can’t go in the first quarter, he doesn’t go. We can’t see pain. You can see swelling. You can see bruising. You can see a cut. But you can’t see pain,” former Dallas Mavericks team physician Tarek Souryal told NBC News.

According to some fans, there are even more suspicious moments from Rozier during games that may have been affected by gambling. 

“I don’t know too much but looking at the videos of Rozier’s suspicious moments makes me totally understand it,” NHS sophomore Blaise Mindenhall said. “Multiple late-game moments where he made dumb passes or just dribbles the ball away. If he blows games and it looks purposeful, it’s probably purposeful.”

Rozier was investigated by the NBA in 2023 due to unusual betting activity involving Rozier. No violations were found of Rozier breaking any rules, as he was cleared. 

Damon Jones pleaded not guilty to the pair of alleged gambling scheme cases during his arraignment on November 6th. Billups' arraignment is set for November 24th, while Rozier's is scheduled for December 8th, in Federal court in Brooklyn.

Although this investigation by the FBI is considered an unprecedented event for the NBA by many, this isn’t the only recent case of an NBA player getting caught gambling. Jontay Porter, a former forward-center for the Toronto Raptors, was banned from the NBA in April 2024 after gambling on games, providing insider information for gamblers, and limiting how he played for betting purposes. 

“I think gambling shouldn’t be allowed and they should be punished pretty harshly, a season suspension first, then a lifetime ban,” NHS sophomore Blaise Mindenhall said.

Recently, Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have both been indicted in a betting scheme, while also rigging their pitches. Both players allegedly provided insider information to bettors. Although this is separate from the Billups/Rozier situation, both cases are being handled by Joseph Nocella, Jr.’s office in Brooklyn. Nocella is the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

The accusations against Billups, Rozier, and other participants in this scandal have caught the attention of fans and media alike. If the accusations are proven true, Billups and Rozier could potentially be banned from the NBA for life, along with other severe consequences for them and everybody involved. Time will tell how this ordeal will change the landscape of sports betting.