NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed his shock and dismay regarding the recent gambling-related arrests of prominent figures in the league, including Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami guard Terry Rozier. In a public statement, Silver conveyed:

“My initial reaction was I was deeply disturbed. There’s nothing more important to the league and its fans than the integrity of the competition. I had a pit in my stomach. It was very upsetting.”

Such sentiments resonated widely throughout the NBA after federal indictments were announced, which implicated around thirty individuals, including Billups and Rozier. Rozier is accused of conspiring with associates to manipulate bets, while Billups faces charges concerning rigged poker games associated with organized crime.

Silver acknowledged that the gambling scrutiny began with Rozier’s activities noted by sportsbooks back in March 2023, where over $200,000 was wagered against his performance patterns.

“He still hasn’t been convicted of anything, in fairness to Terry. Obviously, it doesn’t look good. But he’s now been put on administrative leave. There’s a balance here of protecting people’s rights and investigating,” Silver remarked.

Amid these developments, other figures like Damon Jones are also facing accusations relating to inside information on player health, bringing further attention to the implications of gambling in professional sports. Various coaches, including Doc Rivers and J.B. Bickerstaff, expressed their concerns about the intertwining of betting and basketball integrity.