Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups 'will NOT receive NBA pay amid Mafia gambling investigation'

3 hours ago 12

By OLIVER SALT, US ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Published: 18:17 GMT, 29 October 2025 | Updated: 18:24 GMT, 29 October 2025

Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups will not be paid by their respective teams amid the FBI investigation into an alleged Mafia betting operation.

The NBA was engulfed in a crisis last week after the federal government launched a series of arrests in relation to the alleged scheme, with Billups and Rozier - as well as former Cleveland Cavaliers guard Damon Jones - among over 30 people detained.

The three basketball stars were all charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy following their arrests. They have since issued public denials through their respective attorneys.

Amid the FBI's probe, ESPN's Shams Charania claims Rozier and Billups are not expected to receive their NBA wages while on leave of absence from Miami and Portland. Both of their paychecks will reportedly be withheld and placed in escrow pending the outcome of the investigation.

The Daily Mail has approached the NBA for comment.

Rozier signed a four-year, $96.3million contract with the Charlotte Hornets back in August 2021, before being traded to Miami in January 2024. Billups, meanwhile, put pen to paper on a multi-year extension with the Trail Blazers at the end of last season, when he made $4.7m for that last year of the previous contract.

Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups will not be paid NBA wages amid the FBI's gambling probe

Billups (pictured) and Rozier were among over 30 people arrested last week in relation to an alleged Mafia-led betting operation

FBI Director Kash Patel announced the indictments against those accused of involvement

After reportedly earning over $100m in his own playing career, according to Spotrac, the Portland coach has a net worth of $35m today.

Rozier, 31, has been accused of sharing inside information and removing himself early from at least one game for the benefit of gamblers, the indictment alleges.

The NBA said in January 2025 that it had investigated unusual betting activity on his unders two years earlier but 'did not find a violation of NBA rules.'

On Monday, as reported by ESPN, the league wrote to all 30 teams detailing plans to look into its policies including those related to injury reporting.

It's claimed the NBA is also reviewing its training and education for players and staff, as well as 'enhancing' its methods of identifying 'betting activity of concern.'

Rozier was detained at a hotel in Orlando, Florida , after the Heat were defeated by the Magic in a road game Wednesday evening.

Meanwhile, Trail Blazers coach Billups, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame last year, was arrested in relation to an alleged illegal poker operation linked with the Mafia.

The poker operation is allegedly tied to the Gambino, Bonanno and Genovese crime families, and saw rigged games take place in Manhattan, the Hamptons and Las Vegas .

It is alleged that New York's notorious crime families would use X-ray tables to tilt games in their favor and wear special high-tech contact lenses to read pre-marked cards.

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