NBA superstars are among more than 30 people who have been arrested as part of a major crackdown on illegal gambling in the United States.
Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncy Billups, Miami Heat point guard Terry Rozier and former player Damon Jones are among those detained in separate, but related, cases, according to the FBI.
The 31 suspects — who also include members of America’s most notorious crime families, including the Bonanno, Genovese, and Gambino — allegedly used X-ray poker tables and special contact lenses to read others players’ cards.
Billups, 49, who was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2024, has been questioned in connection with rigged poker games tied to the Italian Mafia.
Meanwhile, Rozier, 31, and Jones, 49, have been held in custody in a sports wager case, FBI director Kash Patel said.
US Attorney Joseph Nocella claimed the defendants won bets based on the performance of those competing for various NBA teams.
He described it as "an insider sports betting conspiracy that exploited confidential information about NBA athletes and teams”.
In March 2023, Rozier played a fixture for the Charlotte Hornets against the New Orleans Pelicans.
The game finished 155-96 to the Pelicans, during which Rozier played less than ten minutes and scored just five points because of an sore right foot.
Before that encounter, Rozier averaged 35 minutes of playing time and more than 20 points per game, sparking concerns from officials as to whether he manipulated his play, according to The Athletic.
During a press conference in New York, Mr Patel said the "mind-boggling" allegations — which includes money laundering, cryptocurrency scams and armed robbery — involved tens of millions of dollars across several years.
Mr Nocella insisted that the suspects are innocent until proven guilty, but warned them: "Your winning streak has ended. Your luck has run out."
The NBA has yet to comment on the issue.
