The NBA is no stranger to drama, but this time, it’s not happening on the court. On October 23, headlines broke out about a massive gambling scandal involving players and coaches, and even suggesting ties to organized crime. What began as whispers of suspicious bets has evolved into one of the biggest crises in professional basketball history. For a game that revolves around integrity, many are questioning how far some are willing to go to manipulate the game in their favor. These acts actively undermine the NBA’s core values.
While recent light has been shed on the topic, sports betting tragedies have long existed. One of the largest cases revolves around Tim Donaghy, who, surprisingly, was not an NBA player or coach, but rather, a referee. From 2005 to 2007, Donaghy bet on games he officiated for and provided insider information to gamblers. His actions came to light in 2007, when the FBI conducted an investigation into illegal gambling connected to organized crime. According to The New York Times, “Donaghy pleaded guilty in August 2007 to conspiring with gamblers by providing them with inside information and helping them pick games.” He admitted that he not only bet on NBA games but also made biased calls that could influence the points scored, to give him an advantage in his plea argument. Though the Donaghy scandal occurred nearly two decades ago, it illustrates how betting can easily intersect with inside information — and the dangers that result when it does.
The more recent scandal began with an FBI investigation into suspicious betting patterns surrounding NBA games. According to an ESPN report, “Sportsbooks in multiple states detected unusual betting interest on Rozier’s statistics ahead of the game, and enough unexpected betting came in that many sportsbooks halted.” Terry Rozier, an NBA player for the Charlotte Hornets at the time, first began his insider-trading scheme in March of 2023, where he claimed a foot injury to leave the game. ESPN made it clear that this was the night in which the books detected highly unusual activity, as one bettor placed 30 wagers in 46 minutes, all “under” for Rozier’s points, rebounds, and assists. His injury caused him to leave the game early, deviating from his usual game pattern of playing for roughly 35 minutes on average. However, he was not found guilty of any charges — until now, when he faces indictment.
This month, more serious allegations are emerging in a broader gambling and corruption investigation that names Rozier among other figures. The organization made a statement saying, “We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority.” Chauncey Billups, the coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, was also indicted. Along with Rozier and Billups’ involvement in corrupt sports betting, they also participated in a poker gambling scheme, using cameras, rigged automated shuffling machines, and other techniques to move the game in their favor.
On October 20, the NBA released an official statement, telling its 30 teams it is reevaluating modern sports betting, saying, “Given the spread of legal betting to the majority of U.S. states, the recurrence of integrity issues across sports, and the emergence of novel betting formats and markets, this is an opportune time to carefully reassess how sports betting should be regulated and how sports leagues can best protect themselves, their players, and their fans.” If the NBA decides to act on this now, it could change the culture of sports betting for years to come.
Sports gambling has been a problem for decades. The legalization of sports betting and gambling apps, such as FanDuel and DraftKings Sportsbook and Casino, has increased the risk in recent years. The NBA now faces a critical moment as it chooses where to draw the line from entertainment to ethics. As NBA Commissioner Adam Silver pushes for unified betting laws, the league has to decide how to restore trust among players, coaches, referees, and fans. When the credibility of the sport is at stake, no bet is worth the risk.
