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Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups denied any wrongdoing in a statement from his attorney after being among more than 30 people arrested Thursday in connection with an FBI investigation into an alleged gambling ring with suspected ties to New York crime families.
“Anyone who knows Chauncey Billups knows he is a man of integrity; men of integrity do not cheat and deceive others,” read a statement from attorney Chris Heywood.
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups walks to a vehicle after his federal court appearance Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in Portland, Oregon. (Jenny Kane/AP)
“To believe that Chauncey Billups did what the federal government is accusing him of is to believe that he would risk his Hall of Fame legacy, his reputation and his freedom. He would not jeopardize those things for anything, let alone a game of cards.”
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Heywood claimed that Billups “never has and would never gamble on basketball games, give inside information or sacrifice the trust of his team and the league as it would tarnish the game he has devoted his entire life to.”
According to the statement, Billups and his legal team intend to “fight these allegations with the same tenacity that characterized his 28-year career.”
Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former player and assistant coach Damon Jones were charged as part of an investigation into rigged poker games with alleged ties to the La Cosa Nostra crime families. Dubbed the “face cards,” Billups and Jones were allegedly used as celebrity figures to draw competitors into the allegedly rigged poker games.
FBI Director Kash Patel (R) leads news conference to announce arrests related to illegal sports betting and poker games, in New York City, Oct. 23, 2025. Portland Trail Blazers NBA coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were arrested Thursday for alleged involvement in illegal gambling. Billups, a former Detroit Pistons star and member of the NBA Hall of Fame, was arrested in connection with fraudulent illegal poker games tied to the Mafia, FBI Director Kash Patel said. Rozier and a former NBA player, Damon Jones, were arrested in a sports betting case, Patel said at a news conference in New York. (ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
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The DOJ said that in April 2019, Billups was one of five defendants who “organized and participated in rigged poker games” in Las Vegas “using a rigged mixing machine” in which victims lost at least $50,000. One of the defendants texted another co-conspirator that Billups should intentionally lose a hand to avoid suspicion of cheating.
During that game, a defendant said one of the victims had “acted like he wanted Chauncey to have his money” because he was “star-struck” by Billups, according to officials.
Officials said all but the victims involved in the rigged games were aware of the scheme.
Billups, head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, was placed on immediate leave by the team following Thursday’s arrest.
Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups leaves the Mark O. Hatfield US Courthouse following a hearing following his arrest on federal gambling charges in Portland, Oregon, US on October 23, 2025. (John Rudoff/Reuters)
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“We are aware of the allegations involving head coach Chauncey Billups and the Trail Blazers are cooperating fully with the investigation,” the team said. “Billups has been placed on immediate leave and Tiago Splitter will assume head coaching duties in the interim. Any further questions should be directed to the NBA.”
Billups was charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering. He is to be arraigned in a federal courthouse in New York on November 24.
