NBA Commissioner Adam Silver ‘Deeply Disturbed’ After Arrests of Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier in Gambling Scandal

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Friday he was “deeply disturbed” by the arrests of Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier on gambling-related charges — a scandal that has shaken the league in its opening week.

“My initial reaction was I was deeply disturbed,” Silver said during Amazon Prime Video’s first-ever NBA broadcast of Boston vs. New York. “There’s 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.”

The comments came a day after federal prosecutors unsealed indictments against nearly three dozen people, including Billups and Rozier.

Rozier is accused of conspiring with associates to profit from bets placed on his statistical performance — allegations similar to those that led to former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter’s lifetime ban in 2024.

Billups faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering for participating in Mafia-linked rigged poker games. Prosecutors also suggested he may have provided inside information on player health statuses to bettors.

“I apologize to our fans that we are all dealing with this situation,” Silver said.

Federal officials said sportsbooks first flagged irregular betting patterns involving Rozier on March 23, 2023, when he was with the Charlotte Hornets. He played just under 10 minutes that night, and bets placed on his underperformance generated more than $200,000 in winnings.

Silver said the NBA had investigated the incident at the time but found “insufficient evidence” to act. “Terry cooperated fully — he gave us his phone, sat for interviews — and we couldn’t find anything,” Silver said. “He still hasn’t been convicted of anything, but he’s now been placed on administrative leave.”

The arrests have sent shockwaves through the league. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, a close friend of Billups, said he spoke with him after the news broke. “To go through something like this — the allegations, his family, my goddaughters — it was a tough day,” Lue said. “You never want to see your friends go through that.”

Veteran coach Doc Rivers added, “It’s really sad. I thought I’d seen everything in this league, but this is different.”

Former NBA player Damon Jones was also charged for allegedly sharing confidential injury information about Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis with bettors. There is no indication that either player was aware of the scheme.

Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff said the scandal highlights how dangerous gambling’s influence has become: “Once you introduce gambling into sports, these kinds of situations are inevitable. The information is incredibly valuable.”

NBA teams are required to educate players and staff annually on gambling rules. Following Thursday’s arrests, the Orlando Magic held an additional meeting to reinforce those policies. “It was another reminder of what we have to do,” said coach Jamahl Mosley.

The NBA currently partners with at least 14 sportsbooks, including FanDuel and DraftKings, which monitor unusual betting activity. Silver has long argued that legalized betting enhances transparency. But many within the league say more safeguards are needed.

“The league and the business have evolved,” said San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson. “We just have to keep educating ourselves. I trust Adam Silver and the league to protect the integrity of the game.”

Rivers noted that the rise of social media has made players and coaches more vulnerable to pressure from bettors. “In my day, the outside world couldn’t reach us,” he said. “Now they can — with ease.”