NBA Report: Heat guard Terry Rozier, Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups arrested in gambling probes

Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups have each reportedly been arrested on Thursday as part of federal investigations into gambling allegations, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Here’s what we know.

Terry Rozier

Rozier was arrested Thursday morning at a hotel in Orlando, Florida. The 31-year-old did not play in Miami’s 125-121 season-opening loss against the Magic due to a coach’s decision.

Sportsbooks in multiple states flagged unusual betting trends on Rozier’s stats ahead of a game between the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans on March 23, 2023 when he was still a member of the Hornets.

Rozier left the game after less than 10 minutes with what was described as a foot injury. He averaged 35 minutes per game that season, but did not play for the rest of the year. The NBA investigated and did not find any violation of rules.

Rozier is entering the final season of a four-year, $96.3 million contract he signed with Charlotte. He was traded to Miami in January 2024 in exchange for Kyle Lowry and a protected first round pick.

After back-to-back losses in the first round of the playoffs, the Heat are hoping to take advantage of a weakened Eastern Conference that will likely see Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton miss the whole season.

Chauncey Billups

Billups was arrested in Oregon on a separate, but related gambling case linked to an illegal poker operation with ties to the mafia, according to ABC News.

Other details of Billups’ case are not currently available, although the Eastern District of New York and FBI director Kash Patel are scheduled to hold a news conference at 10 a.m. ET on Thursday to provide more information.

Billups has been head coach of the Trail Blazers since 2021 and was on the sidelines for Portland’s 118-114 season-opening home loss against Minnesota.

Billups was just inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024 after a playing career that saw him win an NBA championship and Finals MVP with the Detroit Pistons.

Portland has missed the playoffs all four years under Billups.