Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has been placed on leave by the NBA and will not be paid while facing federal charges connected to an illegal poker operation with mafia ties, as relayed by The Athletic’s Sam Amick.
Billups, 49, has hired high-profile defense attorney Marc Mukasey, a former New York prosecutor who has represented former U.S. President Donald Trump in recent years, Amick reported. Mukasey is the son of former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey.
The longtime NBA point guard and current Blazers coach was arraigned last week in federal court on one count each of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.
His next court appearance is scheduled for November 24 in Brooklyn. Billups’ attorney in Portland has said his client disputes the charges.
Assistant coach Tiago Splitter is serving as Portland’s interim head coach while the case unfolds.
Though not charged in the related illegal sports betting probe that led to Terry Rozier’s arrest, Billups is believed to fit the description of “Co-Conspirator 8” in the federal indictment.
That person allegedly tipped off Eric “Spook” Earnest that the Blazers would begin “tanking” ahead of a March 2023 game. Earnest, a convicted felon tied to multiple gambling and fraud schemes, is one of three people indicted in both cases.
Reaction around the league has been a mix of disbelief and concern. Larry Brown, Billups’ former coach in Detroit, told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne that he’s been in constant contact.
“He would be one of the last people I would think about involving himself with bad people,” Brown said.
An unnamed associate told Shelburne they’re worried for Billups’ safety.
“The thing that scares me for Chauncey is that he’s dealing with these mob guys. If this is true… it could get nasty.”
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, Billups’ longtime friend, also checked in.
“You can tell by his voice — he’s confident,” Lue said. “The toughest part is his family, his daughters, but he’s hanging in there.”
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