Federal Probe Uncovers Largest US Sports Gambling Scandal Involving NBA Coaches Players

A sweeping federal investigation has unveiled a major illegal gambling scandal involving NBA figures including Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Heat guard Terry Rozier, who are among 34 individuals charged. The probe exposes a network using insider information to manipulate prop bets on basketball games, with allegations that players intentionally left games early to influence betting outcomes, including one involving the injury status of LeBron James. Rozier reportedly participated in a scheme where he feigned injury to affect his in-game statistics, allowing associates to place and profit from bets based on this inside knowledge. This scandal is the most significant in professional sports since the legalization of sports betting in 2018 and follows a long history of gambling controversies across multiple sports leagues. The Trail Blazers have appointed Tiago Splitter as interim head coach amidst the fallout, and the investigation draws attention to the persistent issue of gambling-related corruption in sports. Past scandals, such as the 1919 White Sox World Series fix, underscore the enduring challenge of maintaining integrity in sports amid gambling pressures.