The NBA, like most sports leagues, has mortgaged part of its soul to the gambling industry, and the results have been as grim as everyone expected. More than 18 years after the Tim Donaghy scandal that rocked the association, the league is trying to avoid gambling ruining the sport … while trying to profit off of it as much as possible along the way. The situations involving players like Jontay Porter and Malik Beasley have been grim, but Thursday’s news was grimmer still.
Early in the third day of the NBA season, journalist Pablo Torre reported that Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat point guard Terry Rozier had been arrested by the FBI for their role in illegal gambling operations tied to the mafia. The news was a long time coming — and perhaps just the tip of the iceberg — after Torre had reported over the summer that the FBI was nearing a conclusion in a lengthy investigation involving betting on professional sports, with active members of the league involved.
According to an ESPN breakdown of the investigation (which has thus far resulted in 34 arrests), Rozier sold information to bettors about injuries he would pretend to sustain, and then removed himself from at least one game in the first quarter, after large bets had been placed.
As for Billups, the reports detail his role in rigged high stakes poker matches, which the mafia used to pocket millions of dollars from wealthy gamblers. While Billups was not mentioned by name in any of the gambling involving NBA games, Torre notes that the description of “Co-Conspirator 8” is surely Billups, who it would appear offered up advanced information before choosing not to play starters in regular season games.
A third person with NBA connections was also arrested: former player and assistant coach Damon Jones, who is not currently employed by a team. Jones is accused of selling insider information about injuries and availability of players — including LeBron James — to gamblers.
While the Golden State Warriors are, thankfully, not at all involved in the investigation, they will feel the impact of it, as they’re set to face the Blazers on Friday night. Billups and Rozier have both been placed on leave by the NBA, with former player Tiago Splitter taking over as acting head coach for Portland.