Gilbert Arenas Slams Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier as Posters for Gambling Investigation

Gilbert Arenas has spoken out about federal authorities investigating the NBA gambling scandal. On Thursday, the FBI announced that more than 30 people had been arrested, including Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier.

Hours after his arrest, Arenas said that although he believed the Mafia might be involved in the gambling scandal, he explained how authorities and the media had presented the case.

“I see the word ‘mafia,’ but the only faces I see are those of the n****s,” Arenas said. “Wait a minute, wait, what’s going on here? What did the NBA do to you?…It’s the mafia, but it’s just local blacks. International crime bosses: blacks.”

The FBI called Thursday’s events a “mass nationwide takedown” of 34 defendants in two separate indictments.

Billups is among those charged in an illegal poker operation allegedly linked to the organized crime group La Cosa Nostra. The former NBA champion is accused of wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy in a rigged poker ring.

Meanwhile, Rozier is charged in a separate but related illegal gambling case. The 6-foot-1 guard allegedly used “inside NBA information” to gain betting advantages.

Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier and Damon Jones headline 34 accused

The FBI said Thursday that one of the indictments related to illegal gambling, while the other related to illegal sports betting. The first indictment charged 31 defendants with being connected to a nationwide rigged poker game scheme. The second accused six subjects of being involved in a “scheme of sports corruption”.

There are three people who straddled both cases, including former NBA guard and assistant coach Damon Jones.

While Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier and Jones were among the most recognizable names in the indictments, FBI Director Kash Patel said four of the five New York mob families were involved in the scheme. Thirteen mob members and associates of the Bonanno, Gambino, Genovese and Lucchese crime families have been named.

The FBI confirmed that the NBA cooperated with investigations. The league said in a statement that it placed Billups and Rozier on “immediate leave.”

Billups coached Portland’s season opener loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. The Trail Blazers announced that Tiago Splitter will be the team’s interim coach. Rozier’s team, the Miami Heat, opened the 2025 season Wednesday against the Orlando Magic, but he did not play because he is dealing with a hamstring injury.