Portland Trail Blazers head coach, Miami Heat player arrested in FBI gambling probe

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were both arrested Thursday morning as part of an FBI investigation into illegal gambling activities, according to multiple reports from ESPN, ABC News, and NBC News. ESPN senior insider Shams Charania broke the news regarding Billups and Rozier in a series of tweets, indicating the arrests connected to illegal gambling.

The arrests came just hours after both men appeared on their teams’ rosters for Wednesday’s games. Billups coached the Trail Blazers in a 118-114 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, while Rozier did not play in Miami’s defeat to the Orlando Magic.

According to ABC News, Billups’ arrest is linked to an illegal poker operation with alleged ties to the Mafia. The details of his charges have not yet been disclosed, but he is expected to make an initial court appearance later Thursday in Oregon. Billups and Rozier were among 34 total people arrested, according to ESPN. According to the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, six defendants have been accused of involvement in the sports betting case, while 31 are allegedly involved in rigged poker games, ESPN reported.

Law enforcement officials told ABC that the poker network connected to Billups involved members and associates of organized crime groups, and that the operation may have extended beyond the Pacific Northwest. Billups, a former NBA Finals MVP and five-time All-Star, enjoyed a 17-year playing career, most notably leading the Detroit Pistons to an NBA championship in 2004, before embarking on a coaching career.

Rozier’s arrest, meanwhile, stems from a separate but related investigation into illegal sports betting. Federal officials Rozier is suspected of using “inside information” to place or facilitate unlawful wagers. His case reportedly connects to suspicious betting activity during a March 2023 game between his former team, the Charlotte Hornets, and the New Orleans Pelicans — the same game that drew scrutiny in the gambling scandal that led to former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter receiving a lifetime ban from the league earlier this year.

Rozier’s alleged role in the scheme is part of a broader federal crackdown on illegal gambling operations with ties to professional athletes and organized crime. Former NBA player Damon Jones, who spent time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, was also arrested in Las Vegas on Thursday morning in connection with the same probe. Authorities said roughly two dozen individuals are expected to face charges across two separate but overlapping investigations into underground betting and poker rings.

NBA officials have not yet commented on the arrests. Billups and Rozier are both expected to appear before federal courts later this week. The Department of Justice said more names linked to the investigation will be announced as the probe continues to unfold.

These arrests arrive at a time where legal sports betting has become closely tied with professional sports, as well as with media companies. In a notable juxtaposition, ESPN's Charania reported on the Rozier and Billups story while a chyron simultaneously advertised ESPN's sportsbook. Professional sports have been a target of investment firms such as CAZ Investments, who have developed opportunities for clients to invest in alternatives that give them access to pro sports teams. These latest developments may indicate previously unquantified risk inherent in these types of investments.