Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups were arrested Thursday morning as part of a federal gambling probe, two senior law enforcement officials confirmed to NBC News.
Rozier was arrested Thursday morning in Orlando, where the Heat faced the Magic Wednesday night. It is not immediately clear where Billups was arrested, but the Blazers played their season opener at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves Wednesday night.
Former NBA player Damon Jones was also arrested Thursday morning in Las Vegas, an FBI spokesperson confirmed.
There will be a 10 a.m. ET press conference led by FBI director Kash Patel and the Eastern District of New York announcing numerous arrests in illegal sports betting and poker games schemes.
Members of organized crime groups are among the couple of dozen expected to face criminal charges in two separate illegal gambling-related cases.
It is not immediately clear which cases Rozier and Billups are allegedly involved with. The Heat, Blazers and Rozier’s agent, Aaron Turner, did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment.
The Heat acquired Rozier in January 2024 via a trade with the Charlotte Hornets. Rozier was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 2015 and spent his first four NBA seasons there before getting traded to the Hornets in the 2019 offseason.
Billups became head coach of the Trail Blazers in 2022 after a 17-year, Hall of Fame career with seven NBA franchises.
The NBA has dealt with numerous gambling-related scandals in recent years.
Jontay Porter pleaded guilty in federal court and received a lifetime ban from the NBA in 2024 for violating the league’s gambling rules. Malik Beasley was also under federal investigation over gambling accusations, but his attorneys shared in August that he was no longer a target in the investigation. Former All-Star Gilbert Arenas was arrested and indicted in July after the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California alleged he was involved in helping operate illegal, high-stakes poker games out of a Los Angeles-area home that Arenas owned.
Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas and six others, were charged in connection with illegal poker games that were allegedly help at Arenas’ rented home in the Los Angeles suburb of Encino.
NBC News contributed.
This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.
If you or someone you know has a gambling addiction, please call the National Council on Problem Gambling at 1-800-522-4700 to speak to a counselor. Help is also available via an online peer support forum at www.gamtalk.org, and additional resources can be found at NCPG website.
Allison Craig is a passionate sports writer and analyst with a deep love for game strategies, player performances, and the latest trends in the sports world. With years of experience covering football, basketball, tennis, and more, she delivers insightful analysis and engaging content for sports enthusiasts.
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