Head coach of NBA outfit Portland Trailblazers Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier are among 31 individuals who have been arrested in connection to their alleged involvement in gambling and sports betting.
Billups, a former NBA player and champion with the Detroit Pistons, has been the head coach of the Trailblazers since 2021 and recently extended his contract with the team. Rozier was drafted into the NBA as the 16th overall pick in 2015 by the Boston Celtics.
In a briefing by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), investigations spanning over two years led to the alleged individuals’ involvement in illegal and rigged gambling.
Rozier was cited by the investigators for feigning an injury during a game on March 23, 2023 and letting people close to him know about it; Rozier was playing with the Charlotte Hornets then.
Seven NBA games dating back to March 23, 2023 were highlighted as part of the investigations including those involving former Cleveland Cavaliers guard Damon Jones.
The NBA has placed Terry Rozier and Billups on leave and stated in a release that, “we take these allegations with utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority“.
The Portland Trailblazers have since named former San Antonio Spurs center Tiago Splitter as interim head coach; Splitter won the 2014 NBA title with Spurs.
