Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups Arrested in Alleged Illegal Gambling Case
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was arrested Thursday by the FBI in connection with an illegal gambling investigation, federal authorities confirmed. The arrest occurred as part of a broader case involving both sports betting and alleged rigged poker games. Billups is expected to appear in court Thursday, according to reports.
The case involving Billups is separate from a recent arrest of Terry Rozier, linked to an illegal poker operation with alleged ties to the mafia. Together, former Cleveland Cavaliers player and assistant coach Damon Jones was also arrested Thursday, accused of providing inside facts about NBA personnel to co-defendants for use in sports betting.
According to ABC News, Jones, 49, allegedly shared privileged information about individuals within the NBA to facilitate sports wagers. Jones played 11 seasons across 10 NBA teams from 1998-2009 and served as an assistant coach for the Cavaliers from 2016-2018.
Federal authorities state six individuals are accused in the sports betting component of the case, while 31 defendants are alleged to be involved in the rigged poker games. Jones is reportedly implicated in both aspects of the investigation.
Billups, who has been the Trail Blazers coach since 2021, was absent from the bench during Wednesday’s season-opening loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. A former NBA champion and 2004 Finals MVP with the Detroit Pistons, Billups was recently inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024. The unfolding legal situation raises immediate questions about the Trail Blazers’ leadership and the integrity of the NBA amid growing scrutiny of sports gambling.
