Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was projected by many to have his best season in his current capacity, considering the mix of ascending young players and veterans on the team’s roster.
However, things have quickly changed, to the point Billups may never coach again. As the embattled Trail Blazers coach deals with multiple federal charges, one of his closest allies offered support.
Who Recently Offered Chauncey Billups Public Support
NBA insider Ramona Shelburne shared that Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown has communicated with Billups every day since his arrest.
Brown said ” He would be one of the last people I would think about involving himself with bad people. If you talked to anybody that was involved with Chauncey, that spent time with him, I think they’d be saying the same thing.”
Brown coached Billups for three seasons on the Detroit Pistons. The pair helped lead the Pistons to an NBA championship in 2004.
Billups’ arrest feels surreal throughout the NBA community, as he’s viewed as a good character guy with integrity. Billups is currently on unpaid leave from the NBA as he fights the allegations.
He’s facing charges in two federal indictments connected to illegal gambling and organized crime, having been accused of fraud and money laundering.
Ty Lue has been a ‘recurring character’ in the poker stories involving Damon Jones and Chauncey Billups, per @PabloTorre
(🎥 @LeBatardShow )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 30, 2025
The FBI says that Billups allegedly leaked sensitive information about the Trail Blazers to sports bettors. Shelburne mentions a particular game of note is the Trail Blazers’ home matchup against the Chicago Bulls in March 2023. Billups allegedly tipped out bettors regarding sensitive information leading up to the game.
The bettors cashed in while Billups and the Trail Blazers were routed at home by the Bulls, 124-96. Four of the team’s starters didn’t play: then franchise leader Damian Lillard, guard Anfernee Simons, center Jusuf Nurkic, and center Jerami Grant.
Billups is also facing charges for his role in poker games, where he allegedly used his status to lure wealthy players to fixed games influenced by organized crime families.
The FBI alleges that Billups knew about the illegal technology and cheating symbols used at the games to harm victims. They also allegedly have bank records highlighting Billups’ compensation for luring participants to the fixed games.
Billups just signed a contract extension this past April, but any plans the fifth-year coach wanted to implement are on hold indefinitely. Tiago Splitter is the Trail Blazers’ interim head coach and has the team currently fifth in the Western Conference at 3-2.
The team may have extra motivation to compete, given Billups’ uncertain status.
