Mafia also involved?
Betting scandal suspected: coach and players arrested
October 23, 2025 – 3:50 p.mReading time: 1 min.
Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier have been arrested as part of an illegal gambling investigation. According to media reports, the mafia is also said to be involved in the alleged poker rounds.
Two prominent names from the NBA have become the focus of criminal investigations. As US media report, Chauncey Billups, coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, and Terry Rozier of the Miami Heat were arrested. The background is investigations in connection with illegal gambling.
According to information from ABC, Billups is said to be involved in illegal poker games in which the mafia is suspected to play a role. The 47-year-old, who won the NBA title as a player with the Detroit Pistons in 2004, is scheduled to appear before a judge on Thursday. The FBI announced a press conference with Director Kash Patel at 10 a.m. local time (4 p.m. CEST).
Billups was arrested in Oregon, Rozier in Orlando. The Miami Heat played their first game of the season there on Wednesday – without Rozier, who did not play.
The allegations against both are said to be different, but according to media reports the cases are related.
Former NBA all-star Gilbert Arenas was arrested at the end of July. He is accused of using his Los Angeles villa as a venue for illegal, high-stakes poker games between September 2021 and July 2022.