Silver Says NBA Is Taking Gambling Scandal Seriously, May Look Into
LAS VEGAS (AP) - It is critical for the NBA to be perceived as having integrity, Commissioner Adam Silver stated Tuesday, adding that the gambling 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 soon before the start of the NBA Cup last were his very first since Rozier, Billups and others were arrested in October. He spoke in Las Vegas, a betting capital that the league has actually used for major events like the Cup last and Summer League for some time.
"I think the fans care a lot," Silver stated. "It ´ s hard to make judgments, either anecdotally over what some fans are stating or what ´ s even on social media. Fans certainly care. And I suggest it when I state, if this game isn ´ t considered as being truthful and the competitors being on the level and at the highest stability, over time we will lose our fan base. I believe about that. Therefore, I take it extremely seriously."
The NBA is uncertain the length of time the investigations and legal procedures surrounding gambling charges dealt with by Rozier, Billups - a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee - and others will require completed, Silver said.
But the league will check out the possibility of offering Miami some sort of "acceptable relief" since Rozier presently can ´ t play, Silver added, though he stopped short of saying such a move would be possible.
"This is an extraordinary circumstance," 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 salary takes up about 17 % of the group ´ s cap area - which the team still 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 was conscious that Rozier was under federal investigation when the Heat made the trade with the Hornets.
Rozier pleaded not guilty previously this month to wire scams and money laundering conspiracy charges stemming from allegations that he assisted some buddies win bets that focused on his analytical efficiency in a game played in March 2023, when he was with Charlotte. Rozier is free on $3 million bond and isn ´ t expected back in court up until March, and he remains on unsettled leave from the Heat.
Prosecutors say Rozier notified the gamblers that he meant to leave the video game versus the New Orleans Pelicans early with a supposed injury, enabling gamblers to put wagers earning them 10s of thousands of dollars. Rozier played the first 9 minutes and 36 seconds of the video game before leaving, citing a foot issue. He did not play once again that season and was consequently traded to the Heat.
Rozier isn ´ t receiving his pay, however his salary is still on the Heat ´ s books and is being sent to an interest-bearing account pending resolution of his case or some other arrangement.
"We ´ re going to try to work something through, work this out with them," Silver said. "But there ´ s no apparent option 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 - but this is an unfortunate scenario. Sometimes there ´ s these unique occasions and perhaps in some cases they need a special option."
Billups also pleaded innocent last month to charges related to a separate scheme to repair high-stakes, Mafia-backed poker video games. Rozier, Billups and previous NBA guard Damon Jones were amongst more than 30 people - consisting of a number of Mafia figures - detained in October as part of a vast federal takedown of illegal gaming operations linked to pro sports.
The league needs yearly training for players, coaches and personnel about what's enabled and what isn't allowed concerning betting, which is now legal in most states. Silver notoriously promoted legalization of sports wagering in an op-ed he composed for The New york city Times in 2014.
The scenarios with Rozier and Billups have led to a quest for even heightened awareness, Silver stated. The league is also taking a look at how best to ensure prop bets based exclusively on a gamer's analytical efficiency - like the ones made on Rozier ´ s March 2023 game - can be performed relatively.
"We ´ ve been redoubling our efforts at the league workplace, dealing with our groups, taking a look at every element of our guidelines around sports betting," Silver stated. "Exist better ways to educate the participants? Are there alters we should make in how injuries are reported? ... We're in the process as I stated right now and working with our teams thinking of anything else we can be doing, if there ´ s any aspect of our system that needs to be shored up."
