NBA Betting Scandal: Insider Information and High-Stakes Wagers
The Department of Justice has uncovered a significant scandal involving NBA players and coaches providing confidential information about games and player availability to gamblers. This inside information led to approximately $200,000 in wagers being placed across seven different NBA games, resulting in a federal investigation that has shocked the basketball world.
At the center of the investigation is Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, who allegedly orchestrated a scheme during his time with the Charlotte Hornets. According to the DOJ, on March 23, 2023, Rozier informed his childhood friend Deniro Laster that he planned to exit a game early, citing an injury. This information, which was never disclosed to Hornets officials or listed on any injury report, allowed Laster to place “under” prop bets on Rozier’s performance. Laster then sold this information to other conspirators, who collectively wagered approximately $200,000. After Rozier played just nine minutes before leaving the game, these bets won, and according to the indictment, Rozier and Laster were later seen counting cash winnings at Rozier’s Charlotte home. This deliberate manipulation of game circumstances for betting purposes forms the basis of the conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering charges now facing Rozier.
Former NBA player and current Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Damon Jones is also implicated in the scandal. In two separate incidents, Jones allegedly provided insider information about Lakers players’ availability and conditions. In one particularly damning case from February 9, 2023, Jones texted a friend to “Get a big bet on [the] Milwaukee [Bucks] tonight before the information is out!” regarding a “prominent” player who would be sitting out – believed to be LeBron James, who missed the game with an ankle injury. The timing of this incident is especially notable as it occurred just two days after James broke the NBA’s all-time scoring record. In a separate incident eleven months later, Jones again shared confidential information about a star player’s injury, though this tip backfired when the player performed well despite the condition, resulting in a Lakers victory.
The investigation extends beyond Rozier and Jones to include other NBA figures, including Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups. Though not directly named as a defendant in the sports betting case, Billups matches the description of “an NBA coach at the time” who allegedly informed a friend that the Blazers would be “tanking” a March 24, 2023 game against the Chicago Bulls for draft positioning. This insider tip revealed that several top players, including Damian Lillard, would be resting – information not yet made public. Armed with this knowledge, co-conspirators reportedly wagered more than $100,000 against Portland. Similarly, another game highlighted in the indictment involved the Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers on April 6, 2023, where a defendant received advance notice that several Magic stars would sit out, leading to an $11,000 bet on Cleveland covering the spread – a wager that paid off when the Cavaliers won by 24 points.
The DOJ investigation also references the already-publicized case of Jontay Porter, who has been banned for life by the NBA after deliberately removing himself from games to ensure “under” prop bets would hit. Porter is currently facing nearly four years in prison for his actions, which represent the most severe punishment handed down thus far in this widening scandal. As the investigation continues, both Rozier and Billups have been placed on immediate leave from their teams, with Rozier specifically facing charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The NBA has responded to these allegations with evident concern, stating that “the integrity of our game remains our top priority” while pledging continued cooperation with authorities. This scandal represents one of the most significant threats to the NBA’s integrity in recent memory, potentially undermining fan confidence in the fairness of competition. The league now faces difficult questions about how to strengthen its safeguards against inside information being used for gambling purposes, especially as legal sports betting continues to expand across the United States.
As this investigation unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder of the ethical challenges created by the intersection of professional sports and gambling. With billions of dollars flowing through legal sportsbooks annually, the temptation for those with inside access to profit illicitly has apparently proven too great for some within the NBA community. The ultimate resolution of these cases will likely shape not only the futures of the individuals involved but also how the league approaches gambling oversight for years to come.
