NBA coach pleads not guilty to charges in illegal gambling case

Portland Trail Blazers caput manager Chauncey Billups pleaded not blameworthy to charges stemming from his alleged relation successful an amerciable gambling case, which astatine slightest 1 different ex-player was besides caught up in.

The Basketball Hall of Famer was arraigned successful national tribunal successful New York City connected wealth laundering conspiracy and ligament fraud conspiracy charges. Billups was accused of being progressive successful a mob-backed strategy to rig amerciable poker games successful New York, Las Vegas, Miami and the Hamptons.

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Portland Trail Blazers' caput manager Chauncey Billups pleaded not blameworthy successful Brooklyn national court, Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, successful New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Chris Heywood, Billups’ lawyer, denied the charges against his client.

"To judge that Chauncey Billups did what the national authorities is accusing him of is to judge that helium would hazard his Hall of Fame legacy, his estimation and his freedom. He would not jeopardize those things for anything, fto unsocial a paper game," Heywood said connected Oct. 23.

Marc Mukasey, different lawyer for Billups, declined to remark to reporters aft the not blameworthy plea was entered.

Billups, 49, was released connected a $5 cardinal enslaved secured by his family’s Colorado home. He is prohibited from gambling and tin person nary interaction with different defendants oregon alleged victims. He surrendered his passport and tin lone question to 7 states, including Oregon and New York, and Washington, D.C.

Portland Trail Blazers' caput manager Chauncey Billups leaves Brooklyn national court, Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, successful New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

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Federal officials said Billups was utilized arsenic a alleged "face card" to lure victims into the rigged games. Prosecutors said during 1 game, the scheme’s organized sent messages to each different saying 1 of the victims "acted similar helium wanted Chauncy to person his money" due to the fact that helium was "star struck."

The poker-rigging strategy progressive blase exertion specified arsenic altered card-shuffling machines, hidden cameras successful spot trays, peculiar sunglasses and X-ray instrumentality built into the paper tables, prosecutors said.

Billups is accused of receiving a chopped of the wealth the alleged mobsters made, according to officials.

Billups and his co-defendants, including ex-NBA subordinate Damon Jones, appeared for a presumption league arsenic well. They are owed backmost successful tribunal connected March 4.

Portland Trail Blazers caput manager Chauncey Billups listens during a quality conference, Friday, June 27, 2025, successful Portland, Oregon. (Jenny Kane/AP)

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Jones and Miami Heat defender Terry Rozier are the NBA figures charged with allegedly scheming to let gamblers to exploit insider accusation astir players to triumph NBA bets.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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