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Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from his alleged role in an illegal gambling case, which also involved at least one other former player.
The Basketball Hall of Famer was indicted in federal court in New York City for money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy. Billups was accused of being involved in a mafia-backed scheme to rig illegal poker games in New York, Las Vegas, Miami and the Hamptons.
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Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups pleaded not guilty in Brooklyn federal court on Monday, November 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Chris Heywood, Billups’ attorney, denied the charges against his client.
“To believe that Chauncey Billups did what the federal government accuses him of is to believe that he would risk his Hall of Fame legacy, his reputation and his freedom. He wouldn’t jeopardize those things for anything, much less a game of cards,” Heywood said on Oct. 23.
Marc Mukasey, another attorney for Billups, declined to comment to reporters after he pleaded not guilty.
Billups, 49, was released on $5 million bail secured by his family home in Colorado. He is prohibited from playing and cannot have contact with other defendants or alleged victims. He surrendered his passport and can only travel to seven states, including Oregon, New York and Washington, DC.
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups leaves federal court in Brooklyn on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
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Federal officials said Billups was used as a “dealing card” to lure victims into rigged games. Prosecutors said that during a game, the scheme’s organizers sent messages to each other saying that one of the victims “acted like he wanted Chauncy to have his money” because he was “star-struck.”
The poker manipulation scheme involved sophisticated technology, such as altered card shuffling machines, cameras hidden in chip trays, special sunglasses and X-ray equipment built into the gaming tables, prosecutors said.
Billups is accused of receiving a portion of the money the alleged mobsters earned, according to officials.
Billups and his co-defendants, including former NBA player Damon Jones, also appeared for a status conference. They are due back in court on March 4.
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups listens during a news conference, Friday, June 27, 2025, in Portland, Oregon. (Jenny Kane/AP)
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Jones and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier are the NBA figures accused of allegedly conspiring to allow players to exploit inside information about players to win NBA bets.
