Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has recently been implicated in an illegal poker operation linked to organized crime, specifically the Mafia, according to law enforcement sources who spoke with ABC News. This serious development comes as Billups enters his fifth season as the head coach of the Trail Blazers. He was arrested in Oregon and is expected to make his initial court appearance on Thursday, as reported by sources familiar with the case.
In a surprising twist, Billups coached the Trail Blazers during their season opener on Wednesday night, where they suffered a defeat against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Known for his illustrious playing career primarily with the Detroit Pistons, Billups retired in 2014 after a successful 17-year tenure in the NBA. He earned accolades as a five-time All-Star and played a pivotal role in leading the Pistons to an NBA championship in 2004, where he was honored as the Finals MVP.
Billups was selected as the No. 3 overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft and concluded his career with impressive averages of 15.2 points and 5.4 assists per game. The charges against him are part of a broader investigation that has also implicated other players, including Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former Cleveland Cavaliers player and assistant coach Damon Jones. These individuals are part of a group facing similar charges connected to an illegal gambling operation that reportedly exploited inside information to place unlawful bets.
FBI Director Kash Patel is anticipated to announce the detailed charges during a news conference on Thursday in New York City. The investigation has revealed that at least six individuals were charged with transforming professional basketball into a criminal gambling enterprise.
Terry Rozier, now in his 11th year in the league, maintains an average of 13.9 points per game across 665 games played. He was a vital player for the Boston Celtics during their playoff journeys from 2016 to 2019. Rozier's team recently opened the 2025 season on Wednesday night in Orlando, although he did not participate due to a hamstring injury.
This illegal gambling scandal is not unprecedented in the NBA. Last year, former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter pleaded guilty to wire fraud, resulting in a lifetime ban from the league after he admitted to betting on his team to lose and providing confidential information to gamblers.
This situation remains fluid, and additional updates are expected as the story unfolds. Fans and followers of the NBA should stay tuned for further developments regarding Chauncey Billups and the ongoing investigation into illegal gambling within the sport.
