Heat’s Rozier and Blazers coach Billups reportedly arrested over separate gambling claims | NBA
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups have been arrested as part of a federal gambling investigation, according to multiple reports.
The exact charge(s) they face were not immediately known. Two people spoke to The Associated Press about Rozier on condition of anonymity because they could not publicly discuss details of the investigation. One of those people also informed the AP of Billups’ arrest.
ABC reported that the arrest of Billups, a Basketball Hall of Famer as a player, was linked to a Mafia-linked poker operation. NBC reported that Billups’ arrest was not related to NBA gambling.
The NBA had no immediate comment. The league has already investigated Rozier and is still investigating the actions of former Detroit player Malik Beasley, one of the sources told AP.
Rozier was in uniform as the Heat took on the Magic in Orlando on Wednesday night, although he did not participate in the game. He was taken into custody in Orlando early Thursday morning. The team did not immediately comment on the arrest.
A message was left Thursday for Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty. Trusty previously told ESPN that Rozier learned an initial investigation determined he did nothing wrong after meeting with NBA and FBI officials in 2023.
FBI Director Kash Patel and other law enforcement officials are expected to provide more information at a news conference Thursday.
The case was brought by the same Brooklyn U.S. Attorney’s Office that previously prosecuted former NBA player Jontay Porter. The former Toronto Raptors center pleaded guilty to charges that he withdrew from games prematurely, citing illness or injury, so pundits could win while betting on his less-than-expected performance. The NBA subsequently banned Porter from the league for life.
One game involving Rozier that has been called into question took place on March 23, 2023, a game between the Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans. Rozier played the first 10 minutes of that game — and not only didn’t return that night, citing a foot issue, but he didn’t play again that season. Charlotte had eight games left and was not in playoff contention, so it didn’t seem particularly unusual that Rozier would be shut down for the final games of the season.
In that March 23 game, Rozier finished with five points, four rebounds and two assists in that first half — a productive quarter, but well below his usual total production for a full game.
Posts still online from that day show that some bettors were furious with sportsbooks when it became clear that Rozier was not going to return to the game after the first quarter, with many taking to social media to say that something “fishy” had happened regarding prop bets involving his stats for that night.
Rozier has $160 million in career earnings and is in the final year of a four-year, $96 million contract. Billups was a five-time All-Star during his playing career and won a championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004. He retired in 2014 and has been Portland’s head coach since 2021.
