Chauncey Billups, a prominent NBA coach and Hall of Famer, pleaded not guilty in a Brooklyn federal court on Monday to charges related to his alleged involvement in a mafia-linked illegal poker operation. The case has sent shockwaves through the professional basketball community. Billups, who appeared alongside approximately 30 other defendants, faces accusations of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. Prosecutors claim he acted as a ‘face card,’ lending the illegal scheme an air of prestige and luring unsuspecting players into rigged games. US District Judge Ramos E Reyes set Billups’ bond at $5 million, with his wife and daughter serving as signatories. Billups is currently free but under travel restrictions. His attorney, Marc Mukasey, formally entered the plea on his behalf. The courtroom was packed with defendants, attorneys, family members, and observers, creating a scene described as ‘controlled chaos.’ Billups responded minimally during the hearing, affirming his understanding of his rights and charges. Defense attorneys debated logistical arrangements for the large group of defendants, with Judge Reyes ultimately deciding to keep them together for now. The trial is estimated to begin by September 2026, with the next procedural hearing set for March 4, 2026. Billups, who was drafted into the NBA in 1997, is among several high-profile figures implicated in gambling-related indictments unveiled by the FBI in October. The case involves allegations of an underground poker operation using cheating devices like X-ray tables and rigged shuffling machines. A separate case involving insider information and online betting has further rocked the NBA. Following the charges, the NBA placed Billups, the coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, on leave.