Silver Says NBA Is Taking Gambling Scandal Seriously, May Check Out
LAS VEGAS (AP) - It is crucial for the NBA to be perceived as having integrity, Commissioner Adam Silver said Tuesday, adding that the gambling scandals that resulted in the arrests of Miami guard Terry Rozier, Portland coach Chauncey Billups and others are being taken with the utmost seriousness.
Silver's remarks in a news conference shortly before the start of the NBA Cup last were his first considering that Rozier, Billups and others were arrested in October. He spoke in Las Vegas, a betting mecca that the league has used for significant events like the Cup last and Summer League for some time.
"I believe the fans care a lot," Silver stated. "It ´ s tough to make judgments, either anecdotally over what some fans are saying or what ´ s even on social networks. Fans certainly care. And I mean it when I say, if this game isn ´ t considered as being sincere and the competition being on the level and at the greatest stability, with time we will lose our fan base. I believe about that. Therefore, I take it exceptionally seriously."
The NBA is not exactly sure the length of time the examinations and legal processes surrounding betting charges dealt with by Rozier, Billups - a Basketball Hall of Fame conscript - and others will take to be completed, Silver said.
But the league will check out the possibility of providing Miami some sort of "acceptable relief" due to the fact that Rozier presently can ´ t play, Silver added, though he stopped short of stating such a move would be possible.
"This is an unprecedented circumstance," Silver stated.
Miami Heat's Terry Rozier, right, leaves Brooklyn federal court, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
It ´ s a multi-layered concern for the league and the Heat, given that Rozier ´ s$26.6 million wage uses up about 17 % of the team ´ s cap area - and that the group still owes Charlotte a first-round choice in either 2027 or 2028 to please the regards to the trade that brought Rozier to Miami. It ´ s uncertain who was conscious that Rozier was under federal investigation when the Heat made the trade with the Hornets.
Rozier pleaded not guilty earlier this month to wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges originating from allegations that he assisted some pals win bets that revolved around his statistical performance in a game played in March 2023, when he was with Charlotte. Rozier is free on $3 million bond and isn ´ t anticipated back in court till March, and he stays on overdue leave from the Heat.
Prosecutors say Rozier notified the bettors that he meant to leave the game against the New Orleans Pelicans early with an expected injury, permitting bettors to position wagers making them tens of countless dollars. Rozier played the very first nine minutes and 36 seconds of the game before leaving, citing a foot issue. He did not play again that season and was subsequently traded to the Heat.
Rozier isn ´ t receiving his pay, however his wage is still on the Heat ´ s books and is being sent out to an interest-bearing account pending resolution of his case or some other contract.
"We ´ re going to try to work something through, work this out with them," Silver stated. "But there ´ s no obvious option here. I would just say that there ´ s no doubt at the minute they have a gamer that can ´ t carry out services for them. ... Obviously, he hasn ´ t been founded guilty of anything yet either - but this is an unfortunate scenario. Sometimes there ´ s these distinct occasions and maybe often they require a distinct service."
Billups also pleaded innocent last month to charges connected to a separate plan to fix high-stakes, Mafia-backed poker games. Rozier, Billups and previous NBA guard Damon Jones were amongst more than 30 individuals - including a number of Mafia figures - jailed in October as part of a sprawling federal takedown of prohibited betting operations connected to professional sports.
The league needs yearly training for players, coaches and personnel about what's permitted and what isn't enabled concerning gaming, which is now legal in a lot of states. Silver notoriously championed legalization of sports betting in an op-ed he composed for The New york city Times in 2014.
The circumstances with Rozier and Billups have actually resulted in a mission for even increased awareness, Silver said. The league is also looking at how finest to make sure prop bets based entirely on a gamer's statistical - like the ones made on Rozier ´ s March 2023 game - can be performed fairly.
"We ´ ve been redoubling our efforts at the league workplace, dealing with our teams, looking at every aspect of our guidelines around sports betting," Silver stated. "Exist better ways to educate the participants? Are there alters we should make in how injuries are reported? ... We remain in the procedure as I stated right now and working with our teams thinking of anything else we can be doing, if there ´ s any element of our system that needs to be shored up."