NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has expressed deep concern following the arrests of Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier in a major gambling-related scandal that has shaken the league. Speaking during Amazon Prime Video’s broadcast of the Boston–New York game, Silver said he was “deeply disturbed” by the indictments, emphasizing that “nothing is more important to the league and its fans than the integrity of the competition”.
The arrests come amid a sweeping federal investigation into illegal sports betting and Mafia-linked poker operations. Billups is accused of participating in rigged high-stakes poker games involving hidden cameras, marked cards, and fraudulent shuffling devices, defrauding victims of more than $7 million. Rozier allegedly conspired with others to manipulate “prop bets” by sharing inside information about his playing time, with over $200,000 wagered on a single 2023 game.
Both were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering and have been suspended indefinitely from league duties. Silver apologized to fans, saying the scandal had cast a shadow over the NBA’s opening week but assured that the league remained fully cooperative with authorities.
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