The NBA is confronting one of the most serious crises in its modern era, as two separate but connected gambling investigations have ensnared high-profile figures as the new season gets underway.
The investigations centre primarily on Terry Rozier, a guard with the Miami Heat, and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups.
Federal authorities have described the ongoing probes as expansive, spanning multiple states, criminal networks, and even ties to organised crime.
So far more than 30 individuals have been indicted, and seven NBA games from the 2023 and 2024 seasons are under review for irregular betting activity.
One commenter noted on X that ESPN pulled the ESPN Bet banner from a news segment covering the arrests, which can be seen about halfway through the clip:
ESPN just quietly removed their “ESPN Bet” logo during a segment on Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups’ gambling arrests this morning
You can’t make this up. 💀💀💀 pic.twitter.com/gGFmVCqhR0
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) October 23, 2025
Federal agents arrested Rozier early Thursday morning (23 October) at an Orlando hotel, less than half a day after Miami’s season-opening loss to the Magic.
The FBI confirmed the arrest is linked to a sweeping federal investigation into illegal gambling and match-related betting activities involving NBA personnel and associates.
Officials from the Eastern District of New York are leading the case, which began when sportsbooks detected suspicious betting activity involving Rozier’s player statistics in March 2023.
According to investigators, a bettor placed 30 wagers for $13,759 on Rozier’s “under” for combined points, assists, and rebounds in a game against the New Orleans Pelicans when he played for the Charlotte Hornets.
Within minutes of those bets being accepted, Rozier exited the game, per his account, because of a foot injury.
Sportsbooks quickly suspended further wagers on his props, and the incident raised alarms about potential insider information being used to influence outcomes.
Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, had stated earlier this year that his client fully cooperated with both the NBA and federal investigators, and that initial reviews found no violations.
However, Thursday’s arrest marks a significant escalation, suggesting prosecutors may have uncovered new evidence linking Rozier to a broader illegal betting network.
Dominoes continue to fall
The probe later expanded to include former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Damon Jones, who is accused of providing confidential player and lineup information to bettors.
Prosecutors allege Jones shared details about player availability, including data concerning LeBron James, so that others could profit from bets placed before official announcements.
On 9 February 2023, two days after James became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, he sat out a game against the Milwaukee Bucks due to ankle soreness.
Jones allegedly told co-conspirators beforehand that James would not play, prompting them to bet on the Bucks to win.
Officials emphasised that James himself had no knowledge of the scheme.
Trail Blazers head coach implicated in illegal poker ring
Simultaneously on the opposite side of the country, federal agents arrested Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups in Oregon on 23 October, in connection with a separate but related case centred on an illegal poker operation.
According to law enforcement officials, the case involves an illicit gambling enterprise believed to be backed by organised crime families, including the Lucchese, Bonanno, Gambino, and Genovese organisations.
During his initial appearance in federal court in Portland on 23 October, Billups acknowledged his right to remain silent but made no plea.
Prosecutors allege that underground poker games involving the above-mentioned figures were rigged using sophisticated technology such as X-ray card-reading tables and chip tray analysers.
These devices allowed organisers to cheat participants out of hundreds of thousands of dollars while laundering proceeds through private gaming events and offshore accounts.
Billups, now in his fifth year as the Trail Blazers’ head coach, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024.
His legacy includes a Finals MVP award and leadership during the Detroit Pistons’ 2004 championship run.
Federal officials have not yet indicated whether his arrest could affect his status with the team, but the potential ramifications for his coaching career are severe.
NBA admits it faces a challenging period
The FBI has confirmed that both investigations are being coordinated by Director Kash Patel.
These cases build upon an earlier scandal involving former Toronto Raptors centre Jontay Porter, who was banned from the NBA in 2024 after admitting to conspiring with gamblers to manipulate game outcomes.
The intertwining of these scandals illustrates the challenge facing modern professional sports leagues: balancing the lucrative opportunities of legalised betting with the inherent risks of corruption, manipulation, and criminal exploitation.
While the NBA was the first US pro league to fully embrace regulated sports wagering after the repeal of PASPA in 2018, it now faces an unprecedented test of integrity and governance.
Commissioner Adam Silver, speaking this week on The Pat McAfee Show, addressed growing concerns over the league’s relationship with betting operators.
Silver emphasised that while partnerships have enabled unparalleled monitoring of betting activity, the sheer volume of wagers being placed, and the potential for insider exploitation, poses serious challenges.
He indicated the league may need to reassess its partnerships to better protect players, fans, and the sport itself.
Meanwhile, some have suggested they believe the league was well aware of what was going on and tried to hide it.
The unfolding scandal threatens to inundate the NBA with scrutiny not seen since the Tim Donaghy referee betting scandal in the mid-2000s.
However, this time, the scale and sophistication of the alleged crimes are far greater, encompassing not just player prop bets but international money laundering and mafia involvement.
Sportsbooks highlight issues of unregulated markets
NEXT.io reached out to several sportsbooks to request comments, and to ask if they would offer any relief to bettors since the FBI was able to identify specific games and instances of foul play.
None addressed the latter question. However, both FanDuel and DraftKings responded almost immediately.
The official statement from FanDuel reads: “Today’s events are deeply disturbing, and should concern fans, athletes, and everyone who loves sports and values integrity and fair play. They also illustrate the stark contrast between legal and illegal betting markets.
“At FanDuel, we use advanced technology and real-time monitoring to identify suspicious activity and work closely with leagues, data monitoring groups, and law enforcement. We are unwavering in our commitment to rooting out abuses by those who seek to undermine fair competition and the games we love.”
DraftKings offered a similar response, stating: “We fundamentally believe that regulated online sports betting is the best way forward to monitor for and detect suspicious behaviour while offering consumer protections backed by advanced technology, neither of which exist in the pervasive illegal market.
“While regulation cannot eliminate all concerns related to game integrity, it significantly reduces risks by enabling collaboration between operators, leagues, teams, and relevant authorities to identify and hold accountable anyone engaged in illegal behaviour.
“We know our fans value the authenticity of competition, and we take the responsibility of reporting suspicious activity seriously. As a proud partner of the NBA, DraftKings remains committed to working closely with the league to ensure the continued integrity of the game.”
Other sportsbooks contacted did not respond before publication.