NBA Commissioner Adam Silver 'Deeply Disturbed' by Shocking Indictments

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed profound dismay following the announcement of federal indictments against Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, among others. Speaking from Madison Square Garden during a game, Silver stated he was "deeply disturbed" by the allegations, emphasizing that the integrity of competition is paramount to the league and its fans. He described having a "pit in his stomach," highlighting the severity of the situation.
Silver also shed light on the NBA's prior investigation into "aberrational behavior" surrounding a March 23, 2023, game involving Rozier, then with the Charlotte Hornets, against the New Orleans Pelicans. This investigation was prompted by legalized betting companies and regulators who flagged unusual betting patterns. Despite the unusual activity, the NBA's internal inquiry at the time, which included Rozier's cooperation and surrender of his phone, found insufficient evidence to conclude a violation of league rules. Silver noted the significant difference in investigative powers between the NBA and federal authorities, with the latter possessing subpoena power and the ability to pursue legal consequences the league does not.
The federal indictments, announced two-and-a-half years after the initial NBA inquiry, named Rozier, Billups, and former Cleveland Cavaliers guard and coach Damon Jones among 34 individuals involved in two extensive federal investigations. These investigations concern illegal sports betting and rigged poker games. Following the indictments, both Rozier and Billups were immediately placed on administrative leave by the NBA, which affirmed its continued cooperation with federal authorities.
According to the case filings, between December 2022 and March 2024, a network of co-conspirators allegedly placed bets on at least seven NBA games involving teams such as the Hornets, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, and Trail Blazers. These bets were reportedly made using nonpublic information. Rozier is specifically accused of providing inside information and deliberately removing himself early from at least one game—the Hornets-Pelicans match on March 23, 2023—to benefit gamblers, subsequently profiting from these bets.
The indictment details that Rozier allegedly informed his childhood friend, Deniro Laster, also indicted, of his intention to exit the Hornets-Pelicans game in the first quarter due to a fabricated injury. Laster then allegedly sold this nonpublic information to two bettors for approximately $100,000. These bettors, alongside their associates and a network of proxy bettors, leveraged this information to place bets on Rozier's "unders," totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. Many of these wagers were successful after Rozier left the game just nine minutes in, having recorded 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists.
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