Billups, Rozier, Damon Jones Nabbed in NBA Betting Scandal

The NBA has been hit by one of its most explosive scandals in years following the arrest of Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former player-turned-coach Damon Jones over their alleged involvement in major illegal gambling operations.

According to federal investigators, Rozier and others allegedly leaked confidential information about players and games to bettors who profited from insider tips.

Court filings reveal that Rozier, while playing for the Charlotte Hornets, told an associate before a game that he planned to exit early due to an injury. Based on that information, gamblers reportedly wagered over $200,000 on his performance stats. Rozier left the court after just nine minutes, citing a foot issue. Prosecutors claim the bets yielded “tens of thousands of dollars in profits,” and that Rozier later met one of the conspirators to split the proceeds.

In a related case, prosecutors allege that a suspect named Eric Earnest placed large bets against the Portland Trail Blazers after being informed by a “co-conspirator 8” that the team intended to rest key players to improve its draft odds. The wagers, worth over $100,000, reportedly paid off significantly.

Court documents describe “co-conspirator 8” as a former NBA player active between 1997 and 2014 who has served as a coach since 2021 — a description matching Billups. His arrest, however, is reportedly linked to a separate investigation into rigged, mafia-connected poker games.

Damon Jones, who had informal ties with the Los Angeles Lakers at the time, is also implicated. Prosecutors say he sent a text before LeBron James’s ankle injury became public, urging a contact to “bet big on Milwaukee tonight” because “Player 3” would be out. The Bucks defeated the Lakers 115–106, and James missed that game along with two others.

As of press time, the NBA has not released an official statement, though sources say the league is preparing disciplinary action as the FBI’s investigation continues.