A major scandal has rocked the basketball world after federal indictments revealed that current and former NBA players, including a Hall of Fame coach, were allegedly tied to Mafia-linked gambling rings. The unsealed court documents expose two interconnected criminal networks involving illegal poker operations, sports betting manipulation, and financial fraud totalling tens of millions of dollars. The FBI and NYPDâ€s Joint Organized Crime Task Force coordinated the multi-year probe, which has now led to more than 30 arrests — among them, several high-profile NBA figures accused of leveraging insider access for profit and protection.
NBA players and coaches named in the investigation
Chauncey Billups, head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, was among the most prominent figures arrested. According to investigators, Billups was allegedly involved in an underground poker network connected to organised crime families, where games were said to be fixed in exchange for payouts and influence.Terry Rozier, a guard for the Miami Heat, was also detained in connection with a separate but related illegal sports betting ring. Authorities claim Rozier participated in insider betting schemes, allegedly sharing or exploiting confidential game information to gain advantage in wagers.Damon Jones, a former NBA player and assistant coach, was arrested alongside Billups for his alleged role in the same poker operation. Both were charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, and gambling-related offences.These three names mark the most high-profile NBA links in what investigators describe as a “multi-layered criminal enterprise†blending professional sports, organised crime, and financial deception.
How the Mafia-linked schemes operated
According to federal prosecutors, the operations functioned in two layers: an underground poker ring frequented by professional athletes and an illegal sports betting network that allegedly exploited NBA insider data. Mafia intermediaries reportedly financed, protected, and profited from both systems. The investigation uncovered the use of offshore betting accounts, money laundering channels, and encrypted communication apps to conceal transactions.The FBI described the schemes as “sophisticated but deeply corrosive to the integrity of sports,†suggesting that some games may have been influenced by betting activity, though no direct evidence of match-fixing has yet been released.
What authorities are saying
At a press conference in Brooklyn, FBI Director Kash Patel called the scale of the operation “mind-boggling,†noting that “tens of millions of dollars†were laundered through the network. Federal agents said the indictments were the culmination of years of surveillance and financial tracking, supported by the NYPD and the U.S. Attorneyâ€s Office for the Eastern District of New York.Prosecutors emphasised that while the investigation remains ongoing, more arrests may follow as evidence is reviewed. “This case shows that even elite athletes and coaches are not beyond the reach of organised crime when greed meets access,†Patel said.
Broader implications for the NBA
The scandal has reignited long-standing concerns about gamblingâ€s influence on professional sports, especially after the legalisation of sports betting across much of the United States. NBA officials have yet to issue a formal disciplinary response but confirmed that they are cooperating fully with federal authorities.Sports law experts say the case could prompt tighter league oversight, mandatory financial disclosures, and stricter betting regulations for players and staff. It also raises uncomfortable questions about the vulnerability of athletes to high-stakes gambling culture — one increasingly entwined with mainstream entertainment and sponsorship.
Whatâ€s next
The defendants, including Billups, Rozier, and Jones, are expected to appear in federal court in the coming weeks. If convicted, they could face substantial fines, suspensions, and potential prison sentences depending on the severity of their charges.
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