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Who Is Chauncey Billups? Meet NBA Coach Allegedly Involved in Poker Cheating Case
Chauncey Billups may be known for his work in the NBA, though he most recently made headlines for his alleged involvement in a poker cheating case. Life & Style breaks down who Billups is and the accusations made against him after he was arrested.
Who Is Chauncey Billups?
Billups got his start in the NBA when he was selected third overall in the 1997 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. He played for the team until 1998 before he played for the Toronto Raptors from 1989-1999, the Denver Nuggets from 1999-2000, the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2000-2002, the Detroit Pistons from 2002-2008 and returned to the Nuggets from 2008-2011.
After he left the Nuggets a second time, Billups briefly played for the New York Knicks in 2011 before he joined the Los Angeles Clippers from 2011-2013. Billups concluded his playing career with the Pistons from 2013-2014.
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He had a lasting legacy as an NBA player and won the Finals MVP award with the Detroit Pistons in 2004. Additionally, Billups was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024.
Following his career playing in the NBA, Billups pursued a career in coaching. He was an assistant coach for the Clippers from 2020-2021 before he became the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021.
Chauncey Billups Was Accused of Being Involved in a High-Profile Sports Betting Case
Billups was arrested in October 2025 after he was accused of being involved in illegal sports betting and rigged poker games that were backed by organized crime.
Federal agents believe Bullips was a “face card” in the scheme and worked to help lure players to games held in Las Vegas in April 2019. A rigged shuffling machine was used during the games to dupe victims out of at least $50,000, according to USA Today.
Another part of the indictment states that authorities believe Billups acted as “Co-Conspirator 8,” who shared confidential game information before it was publicly available. According to USA Today, the suspect is described as a former basketball player who played in the NBA from 1997 to 2014, has worked as an NBA coach since 2021 and is a resident of Oregon. All three of those characteristics match up to Billups.
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Billups has been charged with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, according to NBC News.
Chauncey Billups Pleaded Not Guilty to Charges Linked to Sports Betting Case
During a hearing on November 24, Billups pleaded not guilty to a two-count federal indictment that accused him of working within the sports betting scheme, per NBC News.
Judge Ramon Reyes set Billups’ bond as $5 million, which was secured by the NBA coach’s home in Greenwood Village, Colorado. His bond package included the conditions that he cannot have contact with witnesses, victims, coconspirators or codefendants. Additionally, Billups cannot gamble or associate himself with any members of organized crime.
Other NBA Stars Were Also Arrested Amid the Sports Betting Case
In addition to Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones were among several individuals arrested in connection to the scheme.
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