In a stunning turn of events for Portland basketball fans, Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has been arrested as part of a sweeping federal investigation into illegal sports gambling.
According to federal officials, Billups was taken into custody early Thursday in Portland, while Miami Heat player Terry Rozier was arrested in Orlando, Florida, in a related case. Both arrests stem from a long-running probe led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn and the FBI.
Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups has been arrested by the FBI for alleged illegal gambling, sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 23, 2025
Billups, 49, a Hall of Fame player before becoming a coach, was reportedly arrested Wednesday evening following the Blazers’ preseason loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The arrest shocked fans and players alike, marking one of the most serious scandals in franchise history.
Rozier, who missed Wednesday night’s game against Orlando due to a lingering hamstring injury, has been under federal investigation for months over suspicious betting activity tied to a 2023 NBA game while he played for the Charlotte Hornets. In that game on March 23, 2023, Rozier played just over nine minutes and scored five points before leaving with what was described as a sore right foot. At the time, he was averaging more than 21 points per game and 35 minutes on the floor. Sportsbooks flagged unusual betting activity that night, prompting both league and federal inquiries.
The NBA said earlier this year it had reviewed the matter but found no violation of league rules. Federal prosecutors, however, appear to have reached a different conclusion.
Billups’ name had not been publicly tied to any gambling investigation before his arrest. The 49-year-old coach, inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024 after a 17-year playing career, is a five-time All-Star and former NBA Finals MVP. He has led Portland since 2021 and was on the sideline for the team’s game against Minnesota just hours before his arrest.
A press conference has been scheduled for 10 a.m. local time in Brooklyn, with FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. expected to outline two indictments related to illegal gambling operations. It is unclear if additional arrests have been made.
Rozier and Billups are expected to appear in federal court later today in Florida and Oregon, respectively.
