FBI Arrests Portland Trail Blazers Coach Chauncey Billups Over Alleged Mafia-Linked Betting Ring

Chauncey Billups, renowned for his NBA career primarily with the Detroit Pistons and his clutch performances that earned him the 2004 NBA Finals MVP, is facing serious legal troubles in 2025. He was arrested and charged in connection with illegal sports betting schemes and rigged poker games linked to Mafia families, an operation uncovered during a federal investigation into organized gambling. Billups, who transitioned from a celebrated player to coaching, is the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, having signed a contract extension prior to the 2025-26 NBA season despite his team's lack of postseason success. His alleged offenses are reportedly unrelated to NBA games he has coached, but the arrest came shortly after a Trail Blazers game, marking a dramatic turn in his career. Billups' legacy includes being a five-time NBA All-Star, a Finals MVP, and a respected leader on and off the court, with an estimated net worth of $35 million from his playing, broadcasting, and coaching careers. The ongoing legal situation casts uncertainty over his future in professional basketball and his standing in the league.