The NBA woke up to a stunning headline Thursday, as federal indictments named Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups in a sprawling insider betting and fraud case. Both were arrested, as was former NBA guard Damon Jones.
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As The Athletic's Mike Vorkunov reports, Rozier allegedly told an associate he would pull himself early from a Charlotte Hornets game on March 23, 2023.
That information was then passed along for a hefty $100,000 payout, prosecutors say, leading to more than $250,000 in wagers on Rozier "under" prop bets. Ralph D. Russo of The Athletic adds that the alleged winnings were later delivered to Rozier's home.
The indictments also reference other games and figures. A co-conspirator reportedly shared inside info that Portland planned to rest a key player on March 24, 2023 — the same day Damian Lillard sat out with a calf injury. There's no indication Lillard was involved.
Former player and coach Damon Jones was also charged. Mike Prada of The Athletic reports that Jones allegedly tipped a bettor before a Lakers game that LeBron James would miss time. James was later ruled out with ankle soreness.
Billups' charges stem from a related case involving rigged, mafia-backed poker games. Prosecutors say he and other celebrities were paid to lure players into games that used marked cards and X-ray tables.
Rozier and Billups were both arrested Thursday morning and placed on immediate leave. The NBA said it "takes these allegations with the utmost seriousness" and is cooperating with federal authorities.
