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The NBA was shaken Thursday as Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, and former player Damon Jones were arrested in connection with a federal gambling investigation involving more than 30 defendants. It’s the league’s most significant betting scandal since Jontay Porter’s lifetime ban in 2024, and both Rozier and Billups have been placed on indefinite leave by the league.
According to the FBI, Rozier was allegedly involved in a scheme using non-public injury information to help bettors profit from prop bets, including one game in which he exited early after allegedly alerting associates beforehand. Meanwhile, Billups faces accusations of running mafia-linked, rigged poker games that used advanced technology to cheat participants and may also be tied to sharing insider information about Portland’s lineup decisions. Damon Jones, a former NBA player and coach, has reportedly been charged in both the insider betting and poker cases, accused of using player access to feed gambling operations.
Commissioner Adam Silver has broad authority under NBA rules to issue permanent bans for gambling-related offenses, meaning Rozier could face the same fate as Porter if the allegations hold. The Heat could benefit financially if Rozier’s $26.6 million contract is voided, while the Trail Blazers have appointed Tiago Splitter as interim head coach as the investigation unfolds.
The NBA released a statement saying it is “reviewing the indictments” and reaffirmed that the “integrity of our game remains our top priority.”
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