Heat’s Rozier and Blazers coach Billups reportedly arrested over separate gambling claims | NBA
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups have been arrested as part of a federal investigation into betting, according to multiple reports.
The exact charge or charges they faced were not immediately known. Two people who could not publicly disclose details of the investigation spoke to The Associated Press about Rozier on condition of anonymity. One of those people also told the AP that Billups had been arrested.
ABC reported The arrest of Billups, a basketball hall of famer, was said to be linked to a mob-related poker operation.
There was no comment from the NBA on the matter. The league has previously investigated Rozier and is still investigating the actions of former Detroit player Malik Beasley, one of the sources told the AP.
Rozier played in the Heat’s game against the Magic in Orlando on Wednesday night, but did not play in the game. He was taken into custody in Orlando early Thursday morning. The team did not immediately comment on the arrest.
A message was left Thursday for Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty. Trusty previously told ESPN that Rozier was told that an initial investigation after meeting with NBA and FBI officials in 2023 determined he had done nothing wrong.
FBI director Kash Patel and other law enforcement officials are expected to provide more information at a news conference on Thursday.
The lawsuit was filed by the same U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn that previously sued former NBA player Jontay Porter. The former Toronto Raptors center acknowledged accusations that he pulled out of games early, citing illness or injury, so he could win when those in the know were betting he would perform below expectations. The NBA later banned Porter from the league for life.
A game involving Rozier in question was played between the Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans on March 23, 2023. Rozier played the first 10 minutes of the game and not only did he not return that night due to a foot problem, but he did not play again that season. Charlotte had eight games remaining and was not in playoff contention, so Rozier’s dismissal in the final games of the season did not seem unusual.
In the match played on March 23, Rozier finished the opening period with five points, four rebounds and two assists; A productive quarter, but he was well below his normal overall output for the entire game.
Posts still online from that day show that some bettors were angry with sports betting sites when it became clear that Rozier would not return to the game after the first quarter; many have taken to social media to say there is something “shady” going on with the prop bets involving Rozier’s stats from that night.
Rozier Has career earnings of $160 millionand is in the final year of a four-year, $96 million contract. Billups was a five-time All-Star during his playing career and won a championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004. He retired in 2014 and has served as Portland’s head coach since 2021.
