NBA commissioner ‘deeply disturbed’ by Billups, Rozier gambling arrests

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, in his first public comments since his arrest Portland coach Chauncey Billups and Miami guard Terry Rozier on gambling charges, he said Friday night that he did stunned by the indictments that rocked the league.

“My initial reaction was that I was deeply disturbed,” Silver said on Amazon Prime Video, during the streaming service’s first broadcast — Boston, New York. “There is nothing more important to the league and its fans than the integrity of the competition. I had a pit in my stomach. It was very upsetting.”

That view was shared by many around the league on Friday, a day after the indictments were unsealed and nearly three dozen people — most notably Billups and Rozier — were arrested by federal officials.

Rozier was arrested because federal officials allege he conspired with associates to help obtain bets based on his statistical performance. The charges are similar to those faced by former Toronto player Jontay Porter before the Silvers kicked him out of the league in 2024.

Billups faces charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering for participating in what federal officials have called a mob-backed rigged poker game. It also matches the credentials of someone described only as accomplice 8 in the indictment, which details how some people provided bookies with inside information about players’ health status.

The arrests overshadowed the league’s first week.

“I apologize to our fans that we’re all dealing with this situation,” Silver said during an interview during the game.

The Rozier case has been ongoing since March 23, 2023. He was with Charlotte Hornets at the time, and sportsbooks — the legal ones — alerted the NBA to improper patterns involving Rozier’s “claims” that day. Rozier went on to play about 9 1/2 minutes, and those who bet that he would undershoot said stat lines won those bets. Federal officials said more than $200,000 has been invested in those lines alone.

The NBA investigated and found no reason to sanction Rozier, Silver said.

“Honestly, we couldn’t find anything,” Silver said. “Terry was cooperative at the time. He gave the league office his phone. He sat down for an interview. And ultimately we decided there wasn’t enough evidence despite that aberrant behavior to move forward.”

“He still hasn’t been convicted of anything, in all fairness to Terry. Obviously, it doesn’t look good. But now he’s been placed on administrative leave. There’s a balance here between protecting people’s rights and investigating.”

Milwaukee Coach Doc Rivers started in the NBA as a player more than 40 years ago. He’s seen plenty of good and bad. He thought he had heard it all. That is, until now.

“It’s really sad,” Rivers said Friday.

Along with Billups and Rozier, former NBA player Damon Jones is now facing charges after officials said he tipped off bookmakers about the two’s medical conditions. Los Angeles Lakers players. Details in that indictment make it clear that Jones discussed availability LeBron James and former Lakers center Anthony Davis with bookmakers before their status for certain games was known to the public. There is no indication that James or Davis had any knowledge of what Jones was allegedly doing.

“Now we’re seeing what those things can turn into and how they can expand, how valuable this information is,” Detroit coach JB Bickerstaff said. “It’s a difficult situation in general, but when you introduce the gambling that the world of sports has now, it’s going to be a very dangerous situation for everybody – from a security point of view, from the point of view of this kind of thing.

The NBA requires all teams to annually educate players, coaches and staff about what is and isn’t allowed when it comes to gambling. The Orlando Magic recently met on exactly that topic.

And then after the news on Thursday, they met again.

“Yesterday was another reminder of what we have to do,” Magic coach Jamal Mosley said. “We had another conversation with the group. I think the more that happens, the more we have to continue to talk to the group about what’s going on.”

The league has at least 14 affiliations with sportsbooks, including FanDuel and DraftKings. Some teams also have their own contracts. Silver has often talked about how legal betting can be monitored and how unusual patterns can be flagged immediately, which is one reason the league believes the integrity of the games can be protected.

But some coaches and players still believe more can be done.

“The league, the game and the business of the league has evolved. And so we just have to be aware of how things are evolving in this business, right?” San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said. “It’s very important for us to continue to just educate ourselves and take care of everything that has to do with our business … I have faith in Adam Silver and the league, that they will do whatever it takes to continue to grow the game the right way.”

Another question for players and coaches is how social media has given bettors ways to communicate with those within the league. Those interactions, many said, were not always friendly.

“The outside world, in my day, couldn’t get to us. They literally couldn’t get to us,” Rivers said Friday. “And now I can, with ease.”

Associated Press reports.