NBA star arrested in mafia poker and insider gambling scandal
NBA celebrities including Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier have been arrested in connection with Mafia poker and insider gambling fraud cases.
Los Angeles Clippers coach Tyronn Lue says Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups is “confident in his situation” following his arrest by federal authorities in connection with an investigation into illegal Mafia-linked poker games and illegal gambling related to NBA games.
Before the Clippers’ 114-107 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, Lue gave reporters an update on Billups. He and Billups are both former NBA players and close friends, and Lou revealed on Sunday that he is the godfather to Billups’ three daughters. Billups was placed on immediate leave by the league last week, and the Trail Blazers named assistant Tiago Splitter as interim head coach.
“It’s hard to process,” Lu said, according to ESPN. “I would hate to see him go through this, along with his three daughters, who are my goddaughters, and his wife Piper. I believe in Chauncey’s character. I know the kind of person he is. I’ve been with him since I was 17 years old, so it’s really hard to see something like this happen. He will always have my love and support.”
Lou also commented on Billups’ condition.
“When you know someone for a long time, you can tell if they’re okay just by their voice,” Lu says. “Like I said, he’s confident in what’s going on. The hardest part for him is just like his family is going through issues with his daughters. But other than that, he’s really confident in the situation. So just hearing his voice, you know he’s okay. So it’s good to hear that.”
The FBI on Thursday, Oct. 23, secured multiple indictments against more than 30 people for their alleged involvement in the explosive gambling scandal that diverted attention from the start of the 2025-26 season. FBI Director Kash Patel said at a news conference that Billups, Miami Heat forward Terry Rozier and former NBA player Damon Jones were all arrested as part of an investigation involving a wide-ranging illegal gambling ring.
Billups is charged in connection with an illegal poker operation with ties to the Mafia, and Rozier is accused of manipulating performances during NBA games to benefit illegal gambling. Jones has been charged in both investigations and faces charges of providing non-public game status information about LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who played for the Lakers in the 2022-23 season.
Billups, like Jones, has not been charged in either case, but the unnamed co-conspirator accused of providing non-public game information related to the Trail Blazers is described in the indictment as “an NBA player from approximately 1997 to 2014 and an NBA coach since at least 2021.” Billups played in the NBA from 1997 to 2014 and was hired as Portland’s coach ahead of the 2021-22 season.
