According to Front Office Sports, the NBA is facing one of its most significant legal crises as federal prosecutors have indicted Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Heat’s Terry Rozier for their alleged involvement in an illegal poker ring. The indictment claims the high-profile figures acted as “face cards” to lure victims into rigged games.
The scandal has rocked the league’s front offices, leading to new, stricter policies on gambling and injury reporting. While both Billups and Rozier have pleaded not guilty, the federal investigation has already implicated over 30 individuals, including organized crime families.
* Last Word On Basketball: “Federal investigators indicted players and coaches for allegations of illegal sports betting and gambling.”
* ESPN (Digital): “The NBA has eliminated prop bets for certain players in response to the growing betting scandals.”
Echotitbits take:
This is the “Black Sox” moment for modern basketball. The involvement of a head coach like Billups makes this far more serious than a few players placing bets. If these allegations hold up in court, we could see a massive restructuring of how the NBA manages its relationship with the gambling industry, which has become a primary revenue driver.
Source: BBC — https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpv1rkxjyyno February 22, 2026
Photo Credit: BBC
