The NBA has initiated a review process aimed at enhancing the protection of the game’s integrity, as well as safeguarding its players and coaches, following the recent arrests of Miami guard Terry Rozier and Portland coach Chauncey Billups. Both were implicated in gambling schemes that have raised significant concerns about integrity within the league.
The league's decision was communicated through a memo distributed to all 30 NBA teams. The memo highlighted the need for a reassessment of sports betting regulations, especially in light of the growing legality of betting across numerous U.S. states. The memo indicated that "this is an opportune time to carefully reassess how sports betting should be regulated," particularly given the emergence of new betting formats and ongoing integrity challenges across various sports.
Rozier and Billups were among nearly three dozen individuals indicted last week as part of a federal investigation into gambling activities. Rozier faces charges for allegedly conspiring with associates to win bets based on his performance during a game played on March 23, 2023, while he was still with the Charlotte Hornets. These charges echo similar accusations against former Toronto player Jontay Porter, who was banned from the NBA by Commissioner Adam Silver in 2024 for violations tied to gambling.
Before the arrests, sportsbooks had alerted the NBA to unusual betting patterns surrounding the game played by Rozier on March 23. Specifically, prop bets linked to Rozier were flagged, although the league's investigation did not find sufficient evidence to conclude that he had violated any league rules at the time.
The memo stated that while the unusual betting on Rozier's performance was detected in real-time, more can be done from a legal and regulatory perspective to protect the NBA's integrity. In particular, the league expressed concerns about proposition bets on individual player performances, which require increased scrutiny due to heightened integrity risks.
One of the focal points of the review will examine the league's injury reporting system. The NBA has made a concerted effort to maintain transparency by publishing an injury report every hour, expecting teams to disclose player statuses within designated timeframes prior to games. These injury updates can significantly influence betting decisions, and the memo raised alarms about potential insider trading if gamblers gain access to this information before it is publicly available.
Notably, former NBA player Damon Jones recently faced charges for allegedly tipping off bettors about the health statuses of Los Angeles Lakers players, including LeBron James and Anthony Davis, before this information was made public. This case has underscored broader concerns regarding the integrity of injury disclosures, suggesting that similar tipping incidents may have occurred with other teams.
The memo emphasized the importance of educating players, coaches, and NBA personnel about the serious risks gambling poses to their careers and livelihoods. It also sought to ensure that the league’s injury disclosure rules remain robust enough to prevent harassment from bettors, thereby protecting its players from external pressures related to gambling.
As part of this review process, the NBA has invited teams to provide any suggestions they may have for improving the regulatory framework surrounding sports betting and enhancing player protection measures.
