NBA Coach & Players Arrested In Federal Probe Over Mafia-Linked Gambling Ring

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has been arrested in connection with a federal probe into an illegal poker ring allegedly tied to organized crime, according to The New York Post. The 49-year-old former NBA Finals MVP was taken into custody in Oregon on Thursday morning, just hours after coaching the Blazers in their season opener.

The investigation centers on a high-stakes gambling operation reportedly linked to the Gambino, Bonanno, and Genovese crime families. Federal prosecutors say 31 people have been charged nationwide for their roles in running or participating in the ring.

Authorities claim the poker games took place in Manhattan, the Hamptons, and Las Vegas, using rigged card-shuffling machines and technology to guarantee mob-controlled wins. Players, including Billups, were allegedly paid to intentionally win or lose specific hands as part of the manipulation scheme.

Former NBA player Damon Jones, 49, has also been charged, along with Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, who faces separate but related gambling charges. Both names surfaced in the broader investigation into the illegal poker network.

Rozier was previously scrutinized by the NBA in 2023 for suspicious betting activity while playing for the Charlotte Hornets, though no violations were found at that time. His lawyer criticized Thursday’s arrest as unnecessary, noting Rozier had already cooperated with both the NBA and the FBI.

Billups is expected to make an initial court appearance in Oregon before being transferred to Brooklyn federal court, where prosecutors are leading the case.

A former NBA champion and five-time All-Star, Billups—nicknamed “Mr. Big Shot”—is widely respected for his leadership and coaching career, making his arrest a shocking development for the basketball community.