Silver Says NBA Is Taking Gambling Scandal Seriously, May Check Out
LAS VEGAS (AP) - It is for the NBA to be perceived as having integrity, Commissioner Adam Silver stated Tuesday, adding that the betting scandals that caused the arrests of Miami guard Terry Rozier, Portland coach Chauncey Billups and others are being taken with the utmost severity.
Silver's remarks in a press conference shortly before the start of the NBA Cup final were his first because Rozier, Billups and others were jailed in October. He spoke in Las Vegas, a betting mecca that the league has actually used for significant occasions like the Cup final and Summer League for some time.
"I think the fans care a lot," Silver said. "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 suggest it when I say, if this game isn ´ t viewed as being sincere and the competition being on the level and at the highest stability, in time we will lose our fan base. I believe about that. Therefore, I take it exceptionally seriously."
The NBA is unsure the length of time the investigations and legal processes surrounding gambling charges faced by Rozier, Billups - a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee - and others will require finished, Silver stated.
But the league will look into the possibility of offering Miami some sort of "acceptable relief" because Rozier presently can ´ t play, Silver included, though he stopped short of stating such a move would be possible.
"This is an extraordinary situation," Silver stated.
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 problem for the league and the Heat, provided that Rozier ´ s$26.6 million income uses up about 17 % of the group ´ s cap space - and that the group still owes Charlotte a first-round pick in either 2027 or 2028 to satisfy the regards to the trade that brought Rozier to Miami. It ´ s unclear who understood that Rozier was under federal examination when the Heat made the trade with the Hornets.
Rozier pleaded innocent previously this month to wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges stemming from accusations that he assisted some friends win bets that revolved around his analytical efficiency in a game played in March 2023, when he was with Charlotte. Rozier is complimentary on $3 million bond and isn ´ t expected back in court till March, and he remains on unsettled leave from the Heat.
Prosecutors say Rozier notified the gamblers that he intended to leave the video game against the New Orleans Pelicans early with an expected injury, enabling bettors to put wagers earning them tens of thousands of dollars. Rozier played the very first 9 minutes and 36 seconds of the game before leaving, mentioning a foot problem. He did not play again that season and was subsequently traded to the Heat.
Rozier isn ´ t getting his pay, but 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 contract.
"We ´ re going to attempt to work something through, work this out with them," Silver said. "But there ´ s no obvious option here. I would just say that there ´ s no doubt at the minute they have a player 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 distinct occasions and maybe sometimes they require a special option."
Billups also pleaded innocent last month to charges related to a separate plan to fix high-stakes, Mafia-backed poker video games. Rozier, Billups and previous NBA guard Damon Jones were amongst more than 30 individuals - consisting of numerous Mafia figures - arrested in October as part of a sprawling federal takedown of illegal gaming operations connected to pro sports.
The league needs yearly training for players, coaches and staff about what's enabled and what isn't permitted relating to betting, which is now legal in many states. Silver famously promoted legalization of sports betting in an op-ed he wrote for The New York Times in 2014.
The circumstances with Rozier and Billups have caused a mission for even increased awareness, Silver said. The league is also taking a look at how best to guarantee prop bets based solely on a player's analytical efficiency - like the ones made on Rozier ´ s March 2023 video game - can be carried out fairly.
"We ´ ve been enhancing our efforts at the league office, working with our teams, taking a look at every aspect of our rules around sports betting," Silver said. "Are there better methods to educate the participants? Are there alters we should make in how injuries are reported? ... We remain in the process as I said right now and working with our groups thinking of anything else we can be doing, if there ´ s any aspect of our system that requires to be shored up."