Silver Says NBA Is Taking Gambling Scandal Seriously, May Look Into

LAS VEGAS (AP) - It is critical for the NBA to be viewed as having stability, Commissioner Adam Silver stated Tuesday, including that the betting scandals that led to the arrests of Miami guard Terry Rozier, Portland coach Chauncey Billups and others are being taken with the utmost severity.


Silver's comments in a news conference shortly before the start of the NBA Cup final were his first considering that Rozier, Billups and others were arrested in October. He spoke in Las Vegas, a gaming mecca that the league has actually utilized for major events like the Cup final and Summer League for some time.


"I believe the fans care a lot," Silver said. "It ´ s difficult to make judgments, either anecdotally over what some fans are saying or what ´ s even on social networks. Fans certainly care. And I imply it when I say, if this video game isn ´ t considered as being truthful and the competitors being on the level and at the highest integrity, with time we will lose our fan base. I have no doubt about that. And so, I take it extremely seriously."


The NBA is uncertain for how long the investigations and legal processes surrounding betting charges dealt with by Rozier, Billups - a Basketball Hall of Fame conscript - and others will require finished, Silver said.


But the league will look into the possibility of giving Miami some sort of "satisfactory relief" since Rozier currently can ´ t play, Silver added, though he stopped short of stating such a move would be possible.


"This is an unmatched circumstance," Silver said.


Miami Heat's Terry Rozier, right, leaves Brooklyn federal court, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in New york city. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)


It ´ s a multi-layered concern for the league and the Heat, considered that Rozier ´ s$26.6 million salary takes up about 17 % of the group ´ s cap space - which the team still owes Charlotte a first-round pick in either 2027 or 2028 to please the terms of the trade that brought Rozier to Miami. It ´ s uncertain who was conscious that Rozier was under federal examination when the Heat made the trade with the Hornets.


Rozier pleaded innocent earlier this month to wire scams and money laundering conspiracy charges coming from allegations that he helped some good friends win bets that focused on his statistical efficiency in a video game played in March 2023, when he was with Charlotte. Rozier is complimentary on $3 million bond and isn ´ t anticipated back in court until March, and he stays on overdue leave from the Heat.


Prosecutors state Rozier notified the wagerers that he meant to leave the game against the New Orleans Pelicans early with an expected injury, permitting gamblers to put wagers earning them 10s of countless dollars. Rozier played the very first 9 minutes and 36 seconds of the video 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 income 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 arrangement.


"We ´ re going to try to work something through, work this out with them," Silver stated. "But there ´ s no apparent solution here. I would just state 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 convicted of anything yet either - however this is an unfortunate scenario. Sometimes there ´ s these special occasions and maybe often they need an unique service."


Billups likewise pleaded innocent last month to charges related to a different scheme to fix high-stakes, Mafia-backed poker games. Rozier, Billups and former Damon Jones were among more than 30 people - including a number of Mafia figures - detained in October as part of a vast federal takedown of unlawful gambling operations connected to pro sports.


The league requires yearly training for gamers, coaches and staff about what's allowed and what isn't allowed concerning gambling, which is now legal in most states. Silver famously promoted legalization of sports betting in an op-ed he wrote for The New york city Times in 2014.


The circumstances with Rozier and Billups have led to a mission for even increased awareness, Silver said. The league is likewise taking a look at how finest to ensure prop bets based entirely on a player's statistical efficiency - like the ones made on Rozier ´ s March 2023 video game - can be carried out relatively.


"We ´ ve been enhancing our efforts at the league workplace, dealing with our groups, taking a look at every element of our guidelines around sports wagering," Silver said. "Exist much better methods to educate the participants? Exist changes we should make in how injuries are reported? ... We remain in the procedure as I said today and dealing with our teams considering anything else we can be doing, if there ´ s any aspect of our system that requires to be shored up."