NBA officials reportedly met with a U.S. Congressional committee on Wednesday following the FBI’s arrests of Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier in connection with alleged illegal gambling, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The meeting, held in Washington, D.C., was described as a briefing with the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee staff members—not lawmakers—focused on the league’s partnerships with sportsbooks and measures in place to prevent “illegal use of non-public information,” per The Athletic.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver did not attend the hearing, though several league executives were reportedly present to answer questions about the NBA’s relationship with betting platforms amid growing scrutiny following last month’s high-profile arrests.
Billups, Rozier, and former Cleveland Cavaliers player and assistant coach Damon Jones were among more than 30 individuals arrested by the FBI in October in two related gambling investigations. The cases have cast a shadow over the NBA’s ongoing push to align with the sports betting industry since its legalization in many U.S. states.
Rozier, a guard for the Miami Heat, was accused of providing a co-conspirator with inside information regarding his expected playing time before a specific game, allowing bets to be placed on his statistical “unders.” Jones allegedly shared non-public details about injured players—most notably that LeBron James would miss a Lakers game due to an ankle injury—information later used to place winning wagers.
Billups, the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, was accused of knowingly participating in an illegal poker ring with alleged ties to organized crime. While prosecutors have not publicly detailed the extent of his involvement, federal sources described the operation as a “rigged, Mafia-run gambling circuit.”
Following the arrests, both Billups and Rozier were placed on administrative leave by the NBA. The Trail Blazers subsequently appointed former assistant coach Tiago Splitter as interim head coach.
In a statement released at the time, the NBA said it would “continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities” and “review all internal procedures related to player and coach conduct in relation to sports betting.”
Wednesday’s meeting with Congress could mark the next step in that review process. While no immediate legislative or disciplinary actions are expected, the session underscores the growing concern in Washington over the intersection of professional sports and legalized gambling.
The NBA’s close ties with major sportsbooks—once considered a bold step toward transparency and fan engagement—are now under renewed scrutiny. League insiders have told ESPN that officials are reviewing data-sharing agreements and internal monitoring systems to detect unusual betting patterns or potential information leaks.
Lawmakers are reportedly exploring whether stronger federal oversight may be necessary to prevent similar scandals in the future.
For now, the NBA continues to walk a fine line between embracing the lucrative world of legalized sports betting and maintaining the integrity of its competition. As the investigation deepens, the outcome could shape not just the careers of Billups, Rozier, and Jones—but the league’s entire approach to gambling partnerships moving forward.
