DETROIT — With the NBA on high alert following the recent indictments surrounding sports gambling, Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff is telling his players to be conscious of what they’re sharing and who they’re sharing it with outside the organization.
“To be honest with you, it’s a scary situation. The information that our guys have that are just natural things that happen, through a shootaround or through a practice that may be a casual conversation at home or wherever it may be, that information has been monetized now,” Bickerstaff said Sunday before the Pistons’ home opener against the Boston Celtics. “And whether you like it or not or feel like it’s a part of it, it is what it is. So you have to be extremely careful.”
Just last week, an ongoing investigation into gambling led to 31 arrests across two cases which included Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Hall-of-Fame Piston Chauncey Billups among those taken in custody.
Rozier is part of an investigation into bettors using non-public information, such as player health or when they might enter or exit a game, to place bets
Bickerstaff said he’s even been having conversations with his players about what they share with their family and friends in regards to information about the team.
The uncertainty of where that information could end up reaching is becoming more prescient in light of the indictments.
“All those things can eventually come back and bite you in the ass, even though you had nothing to do with it,” Bickerstaff said. “When you get in bed with sports betting and gambling, there’s a lot of things that come with it. And earlier on in this process everybody’s going to have to weed their way through it until you become accustomed to it.
“All money ain’t good money. This puts a ton of pressure on our guys, on coaches, staffs, on families that, I don’t know if we were aware of or prepared for, but it’s definitely made it much more difficult on all of us.”
The “separate but related illegal gambling case” that Billups, who was placed on leave as head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, is involved alleges he played a role in an illegal poker operation tied to the Mafia.
The five-time NBA All-Star and Pistons legend was arrested last week and appeared before a judge in Oregon. He was released from custody on conditions and his attorney, Chris Heywood, has denied the allegations.
Bickerstaff is close with Billups, having grown up in Denver, Colorado around the same time before they each became head coaches.
“He’s a friend of mine. I’ve known him since I was in the seventh grade. I care about him immensely. I hate to see what he’s going through right now,” Bickerstaff said. “As a friend, as a human, I’m here to support him and be there for him in any way that he needs me to be. And I know just how difficult this time is.
“I think everyone needs to allow the due process to happen and then obviously judgments can be made. But you feel for anybody who you’ve known that long, have a relationship with, know his family well. I know he’s going through it. I know it’s a difficult time for him, but all of us as friends and coaches, we’re there for him.”
Former Pistons guard Malik Beasley was also caught amid a federal investigation into gambling this summer that has resulted in his continued status as a free agent.
Beasley has yet to be charged with anything after reported allegations of sports betting during the 2023-24 season before he joined the Pistons.
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