By Charles Zackary King
Inspired by reporting from Will Gosner and USA Today, ESPN, and Free Press
In October 2025, the NBA didn’t just suffer a scandal, it suffered a credibility crisis. The FBI arrested over 30 individuals, including Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former player Damon Jones, in connection with two sweeping indictments involving Mafia-backed poker games and insider sports betting. The charges are explosive. But the implications? Even bigger.
The Billups Allegation: A Hall of Famer or a Fall Guy?
Federal prosecutors allege that Billups helped lure wealthy victims into rigged poker games run by the Bonanno, Gambino, and Genovese crime families. They claim he received wired payments after games where hidden cameras and altered shuffling machines were used to cheat unsuspecting players Detroit Free Press.
But here’s the twist: Billups is not accused of betting on basketball. His attorney calls the charges “absurd,” arguing that no man would risk a Hall of Fame legacy, a coaching career, and his freedom over a card game USA TODAY. And frankly, that’s hard to ignore. Could Billups have been used as bait, his name and presence weaponized to attract high rollers? That’s a question the public deserves to ask.
Rozier’s Case: Prop Bets and a LeBron Injury
Rozier’s indictment is more direct. He allegedly told an associate he would fake an injury during a 2023 game, allowing others to place “under” bets on his performance. The result? Nine people placed bets totaling $263,500 The Columbus Dispatch.
But what really raised eyebrows was the mention of LeBron James in the broader investigation. While not accused of wrongdoing, his injury status was reportedly used in insider betting schemes. That name alone may have triggered the FBI’s deeper probe ESPN.
The NFL Comparison: Why So Quiet?
Let’s talk about football. Every Sunday, fans complain about officiating, questionable calls, and suspicious outcomes. Yet the NFL seems untouched by scandal. Are they cleaner, or just better at covering tracks?
Since the 2018 Supreme Court decision (Murphy v. NCAA) legalized sports betting, the lines between competition and commerce have blurred. The NBA embraced gambling for sponsorship dollars. But now, the very integrity of the game is in question.
What We Need Now: Public Scrutiny
This isn’t just about two men. It’s about a system that incentivizes manipulation. It’s about a league that opened the door to gambling without building the safeguards. And it’s about fans who deserve transparency.
Read the indictments. Ask the hard questions. Demand accountability.
- Was Billups a mastermind or a pawn?
- Did Rozier act alone or was this part of a larger culture?
- Why are other leagues, like the NFL, seemingly immune?
The NBA says it investigated Rozier in 2023 and found no rule violations USA TODAY. But now, federal prosecutors say otherwise. That contradiction alone deserves public attention.
✍🏽 Credit: Original reporting by Will Gosner, Encyclopaedia Britannica, and updates from USA Today, Dispatch, ESPN, Free Press, and Yahoo Sports
