A fresh indictment that was just unsealed in New York accused high-profile NBA personalities of involvement with illegal gambling, sending shockwaves across the sporting sector. The names of NBA Hall of Famer and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and ex-athlete Damon Jones appeared in the indictment, suggesting possible ties with Mafia-organized poker and insider betting.
The Crackdown Uncovered an Alleged Insider Betting Ring
The indictments named two separate cases of misdemeanor. One of the two alleged that Rozier and Jones have been involved in a sports betting ring that leveraged insider knowledge to allow its members to place lucrative bets.
With access to insider information, bettors could learn of certain player injuries or illnesses and place advantaged prop bets. Since prop bets are wagers on the performance of a particular player, knowledge of undisclosed player conditions allegedly allowed participants in the scheme to win significant sums, which they allegedly wagered via cash transactions and peer-to-peer platforms.
Rozier Faked an Injury, the Indictment Says
In addition to being accused of assisting the scheme, Rozier was indicted for going further and underperforming on purpose. This allegedly happened during the 2022-23 season when the Hornets were facing the Pelicans and Rozier left the game earlier due to a reported injury. The indictment alleges that the injury was faked.
Documents further allege that, prior to the game, Rozier informed a friend of his intentions to exit the game early. The friend in question was Deniro “Niro” Laster, who, according to the indictment, immediately shared the information with others, resulting in $250,000 in prop bets.
Rozier’s defense has firmly rejected the allegations. His attorney, Jim Trusty of Ifrah Law, has described the athlete as someone who is clearly “not a gambler.” Trusty expressed confidence that his client would win the legal battle ahead.
Jones, on the other hand, was accused of sharing information about the condition of players in two games featuring the Lakers. An incriminating text allegedly shows Jones informing others of a player injury and encouraging them to place a wager “before the information is out.”
Addiction or “Stupidity”?
As the situation continues to unfold, the Inside The NBA panel featuring Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley discussed the situation.
Although Smith acknowledged that everyone involved is innocent until proven guilty and he said that he was surprised by the news, considering NBA players’ paychecks. However, he also acknowledged that gambling can be an addiction that causes people to make illogical decisions.
Barkley, however, was not convinced that it was about addiction. During a heated argument with Smith, he attributed the accused NBA personalities’ alleged misdemeanor to stupidity rather than problem gambling.
Whatever the case, Shaq regretted that the situation was unfolding at all, saying that the accused personalities, if proven guilty, would bring shame to themselves, their families, and the entire NBA. Although he agreed that nothing has been proven yet, he also noted that if the FBI is involved, things are likely serious.