NBA’s Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier Arrested in Gambling Probe Scandal/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier have been arrested amid a federal sports betting investigation. The charges remain undisclosed, but the arrests are tied to a broader probe of illegal gambling in professional basketball. The NBA and FBI are continuing investigations following past betting scandals.
NEW YORK — Two high-profile NBA figures — Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier — were arrested Thursday in connection with a sweeping federal investigation into illegal sports betting, according to individuals familiar with the matter.
Sources speaking to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity confirmed the arrests but did not disclose specific charges. Both arrests are part of a broader probe led by the U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn, which recently prosecuted former NBA player Jontay Porter for gambling- offenses.
The arrests come at a time when the NBA is already under heightened scrutiny over its handling of sports betting among players and staff. The league, which previously investigated Rozier, declined to issue an immediate comment. One source indicated that the investigation into Rozier had not been closed and that former Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley is also under review.
Rozier, who was in uniform during the Miami Heat’s season opener against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, was arrested early Thursday morning in Orlando. Although he did not play in the game, his presence on the bench had not suggested any legal issues were imminent. The Heat organization has yet to comment on the situation.
Attorney Jim Trusty, representing Rozier, was contacted for comment but has not responded. In prior statements to ESPN, Trusty noted that Rozier had met with NBA and FBI officials in 2023 and had been told he was not a suspect at the time.
One game in particular has raised suspicion: a March 23, 2023 matchup between Rozier’s then-team, the Charlotte Hornets, and the New Orleans Pelicans. In that contest, Rozier played just under 10 minutes in the first quarter before exiting with a reported foot injury. He did not return to play for the remainder of the season.
Although Charlotte was not contending for a playoff spot, the abrupt end to Rozier’s season — combined with an active betting market on player performance (prop bets) — raised red flags. Bettors who placed wagers based on Rozier’s expected game stats were outraged on social media when it became clear he would not meet typical performance thresholds.
While details surrounding Chauncey Billups’ arrest are still emerging, his involvement significantly escalates the matter. As a head coach and former NBA champion, Billups carries influence both on and off the court. His arrest could suggest a deeper level of involvement among league personnel in ongoing betting scandals.
The FBI has taken the lead in the investigation, with Director Kash Patel and other law enforcement officials expected to provide a comprehensive update during a scheduled press conference Thursday morning. The event is anticipated to shed more light on the nature of the charges and the scope of the federal probe.
The case is being handled by the same Brooklyn-based U.S. attorney’s office that recently brought charges against Jontay Portera former Toronto Raptors center. Porter pleaded guilty to intentionally withdrawing from games under the pretense of injury or illness, allowing inside bettors to cash in by placing under-performance wagers — a form of manipulation that led to lucrative, illegal gains.
That precedent adds serious weight to the current allegations against Rozier and Billups, suggesting that federal authorities are aggressively pursuing cases where players or coaches may have knowingly influenced game outcomes or shared insider information.
Prop bets — or proposition bets — are wagers made on specific player statistics rather than game outcomes. For example, a bet may involve whether a player scores more or fewer than 20 points or grabs a certain number of rebounds. These bets are widely available on legal betting platforms and are especially susceptible to manipulation if players are involved in the betting process or possess advance knowledge of game plans.
In Rozier’s March 2023 game, online commentary and screenshots from sports betting platforms show bettors were livid when his early exit destroyed their wagers. The online outrage hinted at concerns that now appear to be at the heart of the federal investigation.
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