- Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups are among several charged in illegal betting investigations.
- Rozier is accused of being involved in a sports betting scheme, with investigators probing a March 2023 game he allegedly manipulated.
- Billups faces separate charges tied to an illegal poker operation linked to organised crime.
- The FBI and New York prosecutors are expected to brief the media later today.
Federal authorities have charged Miami Heat’s Terry Rozier over alleged involvement in an illegal sports betting operation. Reports from CBS News indicate that Rozier was among six individuals arrested, including other players accused of faking injuries to influence betting outcomes.
Investigators began probing unusual betting activity following a March 2023 game between Rozier’s former team, the Charlotte Hornets, and the New Orleans Pelicans.
During that game, Rozier logged only nine minutes and scored five points, citing a sore right foot. This was far below his usual performance, averaging 35 minutes and 21 points per game before that match.
Sources told The Athletic that the FBI suspects Rozier may have intentionally underperformed as part of a broader gambling conspiracy.
In a separate case, Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups is among 31 people charged in connection with an illegal poker ring that prosecutors say involved coaches and organised crime figures.
CBS sources report that the investigation uncovered links between sports insiders and underground gambling networks operating across multiple states.
The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New York are scheduled to hold a press briefing at 10:00 a.m. EST (15:00 BST) to reveal more details about both cases.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has not yet issued an official statement. The league’s integrity unit is expected to review the allegations, which could result in severe disciplinary actions, including suspensions or lifetime bans if wrongdoing is confirmed.
The arrests mark one of the biggest gambling scandals to hit professional basketball in years, rekindling concerns over the growing influence of betting in major U.S. sports.
