Silver Says NBA Is Taking Gambling Scandal Seriously, May Look Into
LAS VEGAS (AP) - It is crucial for the NBA to be perceived as having integrity, Commissioner Adam Silver stated Tuesday, adding that the betting 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 quickly before the start of the NBA Cup last were his very first given that Rozier, Billups and others were jailed in October. He spoke in Las Vegas, a betting mecca that the league has actually utilized for significant events like the Cup last and Summer League for some time.
"I believe 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 definitely care. And I imply it when I say, if this video game isn ´ t viewed as being truthful and the competitors being on the level and at the greatest stability, over time we will lose our fan base. I believe about that. Therefore, I take it exceptionally seriously."
The NBA is unsure how long the examinations and legal processes surrounding betting charges dealt with by Rozier, Billups - a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee - and others will take to be completed, Silver stated.
But the league will check out the possibility of offering Miami some sort of "satisfactory relief" due to the fact that Rozier currently can ´ t play, Silver included, though he stopped short of saying such a relocation would be possible.
"This is an extraordinary scenario," 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 problem for the league and the Heat, considered 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 please the regards to the trade that brought Rozier to Miami. It ´ s uncertain who was mindful that Rozier was under federal examination when the Heat made the trade with the Hornets.
not guilty earlier this month to wire fraud and cash laundering conspiracy charges stemming from allegations that he assisted some good friends win bets that focused on his statistical performance in a game played in March 2023, when he was with Charlotte. Rozier is totally free on $3 million bond and isn ´ t anticipated back in court up until March, and he remains on overdue leave from the Heat.
Prosecutors say Rozier notified the wagerers that he planned to leave the video game against the New Orleans Pelicans early with an expected injury, permitting bettors to place wagers earning them tens of thousands of dollars. Rozier played the first nine minutes and 36 seconds of the game before leaving, mentioning a foot problem. He did not play once again that season and was subsequently traded to the Heat.
Rozier isn ´ t receiving his pay, but his salary 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 simply state that there ´ s no doubt at the moment they have a player that can ´ t carry out services for them. ... Obviously, he hasn ´ t been convicted of anything yet either - but this is an unfortunate scenario. Sometimes there ´ s these unique events and maybe in some cases they need an unique solution."
Billups likewise pleaded not guilty last month to charges associated with a different plan to fix high-stakes, Mafia-backed poker games. Rozier, Billups and former NBA guard Damon Jones were among more than 30 people - consisting of numerous Mafia figures - jailed in October as part of a sprawling federal takedown of illegal gaming operations linked to pro sports.
The league requires annual training for gamers, coaches and staff about what's enabled and what isn't permitted relating to gaming, which is now legal in many 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 caused a mission for even heightened awareness, Silver said. The league is likewise taking a look at how best to ensure prop bets based entirely on a gamer's analytical performance - 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 workplace, dealing with our teams, looking at every element of our guidelines around sports betting," Silver stated. "Exist much better methods to inform the individuals? Are there alters we should make in how injuries are reported? ... We're in the process as I said today and working with our groups thinking of anything else we can be doing, if there ´ s any element of our system that needs to be shored up."