In a significant crackdown on illegal sports betting, a National Basketball Association (NBA) player and coach have been implicated in separate cases, as reported by CBS News, a partner of the BBC. Miami Heat player Terry Rozier is among six individuals arrested in connection with alleged involvement in illegal sports gambling. Reports suggest that Rozier and other players may have feigned injuries to manipulate game outcomes. In a parallel investigation, Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups is one of 31 individuals charged in a case involving illegal poker games linked to organized crime figures. Law enforcement sources revealed these details ahead of a scheduled news conference by New York prosecutors and FBI Director Kash Patel at 10:00 EST (15:00 BST). The BBC has reached out to the NBA for comment. Federal investigators have been scrutinizing unusual betting activity tied to a March 2023 game in which Rozier, then playing for the Charlotte Hornets, logged just nine minutes and scored five points against the New Orleans Pelicans, citing a sore right foot. This performance starkly contrasted with his season averages of 35 minutes and 21 points per game, raising suspicions of game manipulation for gambling purposes.
Portland Trail Blazers coach and Miami Heat player arrested in NBA gambling case
