In October, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, along with Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and assistant coach Damon Jaones, was arrested over an FBI investigation into illegal gambling.
The case has since been closely followed by the media, providing fans with updates on every step of the ongoing investigation. The recent update followed Billups’ arraignment in New York City’s federal court, further clarifying the next steps in the FBI case.
Reports Provide New Details Regarding Blazers HC Chauncey Billups’ Gambling Scandal
On Monday, November 4, Billups was arraigned on allegations of rigged poker games. NBA insider Ramona Shelburne revealed that the HC pleaded not guilty, writing: “The next status update in the case — with all 31 defendants — will be March 4. The government said it had 1 terabyte of data to produce in discovery.”
The judge has set bail for Chauncey Billups at $5 million. Billups used his house in Colorado as collateral. His wife and daughter co-signed the bond.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) November 24, 2025
According to Shelburne, Billups’ bail was set at $5 million. The HC used his house as collateral while both his wife and daughter co-signed the bond.
Furthermore, Billups’ wife and three daughters were all present at the arraignment. Neither Billups nor his attorney spoke to the media while exiting the venue.
That being said, Billups maintained his composure in the federal court, only answering the judge’s yes-or-no questions. Of course, the 49-year-old has been free on bond after his first court appearance in Oregon.
Monday’s meeting will provide officials with the opportunity to discuss the case further, including Billups and the other 30 individuals involved.
Billups Has Denied Charges After His First Court Hearing
While Billups didn’t state in New York, his attorney, Chris Heywood, spoke about the head coach after his appearance in Oregon. They claimed that Billups — who is a “man of integrity” — was denying the charges.
“To believe that Chauncey Billups did what the federal government is accusing him of is to believe that he would risk his Hall of Fame legacy, his reputation and his freedom. He would not jeopardize those things for anything, let alone a card game,” Heywood said.
Billups’ arrest was due to rigged poker games connected to the mafia, causing an uproar after the news went viral. They would allegedly lure people into play with Billups, eventually losing their money due to the fixed games.
“The mafia … had preexisting control over non-rigged, illegal poker games around New York City,” Joseph Nocella, a US Attorney, said. “As a result, they also became involved in the rigged poker games, helping to organize the games and taking a cut of the proceedings — and working to enforce the collection of debts.”
There were also reports that Billups was involved in sharing insider information for betting purposes.
While many people have supported Coach Billups, some fans have asked the NBA to ban the HC, hoping that the matter will be resolved before the 2025-26 NBA season concludes.
