Copyright Mechanicsburg Patriot News
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, who was a five-time NBA All-Star and Finals MVP during his playing days, has been arrested by the FBI, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Billups was arrested as a part of the FBI’s investigation into illegal sports gambling. The news comes after Charania reported earlier Thursday that NBA star Terry Rozier has been arrested in the same sports gambling investigation. Chauncey Billups has been the head coach of the Trail Blazers since 2021. He spent 17 years in the NBA before getting into coaching, making the all-star game every year from 2006-10. Billups led the Detroit Pistons to the 2004 NBA Championship and was the NBA Finals MVP that year. No details have been released about what led to his arrest, but FBI Director Kash Patel and the Eastern District of New York will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. Thursday to discuss the findings of the investigation, according to Charania. While there are limited details about Billups’ arrest, Rozier’s arrest came after ESPN reported over the summer that a professional sports bettor placed 30 wagers on Rozier unders in 46 minutes ahead of a game in 2023. All 30 bets won as Rozier, then a member of the Charlotte Hornets, left the game against the Pelicans after 10 minutes, citing a foot injury. In addition to Rozier, former Raptors center Jontay Porter and NBA veteran Malik Beasley have also been connected to gambling investigations. Porter pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in 2024 after removing himself from two games. He has been banned from the NBA. Beasley is under investigation in the federal gambling probe but has not been charged. Terry Rozier, who starred at Louisville during his college career, is averaging 13.9 points per game across his 10-plus year NBA career. Rozier started his career with the Boston Celtics, before going on to play with the Charlotte Hornets and now Miami Heat. He is entering his 11th season in the league.
