Silver Says NBA Is Taking Gambling Scandal Seriously, May Check Out
LAS VEGAS (AP) - It is for the NBA to be viewed as having integrity, Commissioner Adam Silver stated Tuesday, adding 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 seriousness.
Silver's comments in a press conference shortly before the start of the NBA Cup last were his first since Rozier, Billups and others were jailed in October. He spoke in Las Vegas, a gaming mecca that the league has actually utilized for major occasions like the Cup last 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 media. Fans absolutely care. And I imply it when I say, if this game isn ´ t considered as being honest and the competition being on the level and at the highest stability, gradually we will lose our fan base. I believe about that. Therefore, I take it extremely seriously."
The NBA is not sure for how long the examinations and legal procedures surrounding gambling charges dealt with by Rozier, Billups - a Basketball Hall of Fame conscript - and others will require finished, Silver stated.
But the league will look into the possibility of giving Miami some sort of "satisfactory relief" since Rozier currently can ´ t play, Silver included, though he stopped short of stating such a move would be possible.
"This is an unprecedented scenario," 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 issue for the league and the Heat, provided that Rozier ´ s$26.6 million income uses up about 17 % of the group ´ s cap area - and that the group 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 knew that Rozier was under federal examination when the Heat made the trade with the Hornets.
Rozier pleaded not guilty earlier this month to wire scams and money laundering conspiracy charges originating from allegations that he helped some friends win bets that revolved around his statistical performance in a 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 remains on unsettled leave from the Heat.
Prosecutors say Rozier notified the bettors that he planned to leave the game against the New Orleans Pelicans early with a supposed injury, permitting gamblers to place wagers making them 10s of thousands of dollars. Rozier played the very first 9 minutes and 36 seconds of the game before leaving, citing a foot concern. He did not play again that season and was subsequently traded to the Heat.
Rozier isn ´ t receiving his pay, but his income is still on the Heat ´ s books and is being sent to an interest-bearing account pending resolution of his case or some other agreement.
"We ´ re going to try to work something through, work this out with them," Silver said. "But there ´ s no obvious solution here. I would just state 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 founded guilty of anything yet either - however this is an unfortunate circumstance. Sometimes there ´ s these distinct events and maybe sometimes they need a distinct option."
Billups also pleaded innocent last month to charges connected to a separate scheme to fix high-stakes, Mafia-backed poker 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 betting operations connected to pro sports.
The league requires yearly training for gamers, coaches and staff about what's allowed and what isn't permitted concerning betting, which is now legal in many states. Silver notoriously championed legalization of sports betting in an op-ed he composed for The New York Times in 2014.
The scenarios with Rozier and Billups have led to a quest for even increased awareness, Silver stated. The league is also taking a look at how finest to guarantee prop bets based solely on a gamer's statistical performance - like the ones made on Rozier ´ s March 2023 video game - can be performed fairly.
"We ´ ve been redoubling our efforts at the league workplace, dealing with our groups, looking at every element of our rules around sports betting," Silver stated. "Are there much better ways to educate the participants? Are there changes we should make in how injuries are reported? ... We remain in the process as I stated right now and working with our groups thinking of anything else we can be doing, if there ´ s any element of our system that requires to be shored up."