An NBA player and coach are among the dozens of people arrested as part of a sweeping FBI investigation into illegal sports betting and allegedly rigged, mafia-linked poker games. Miami Heat player Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups were named by federal prosecutors in two separate indictments on Thursday. Both men deny the allegations.

Rozier, 31, is one of six individuals arrested over alleged betting irregularities, with accusations that NBA players faked injuries to influence gambling markets. Billups, a Hall of Fame player turned coach, is part of a group of 31 charged in a separate poker game case linked to organized crime.

This latter case involves four of the five major crime families in New York and centers on a scheme where victims were allegedly drawn into playing rigged poker games alongside professional athletes and subsequently robbed of millions. Advanced technologies were reportedly utilized to manipulate these games.

The NBA has placed Rozier and Billups on immediate leave pending further investigation, emphasizing the integrity of the game as a top priority. Within this crackdown, Rozier's lawyer contended his client is not a gambler and is prepared to fight the charges, while Billups’ defense maintains he will defend his reputation with vigor.

FBI Director Kash Patel labeled the arrests as extraordinary and indicated a coordinated effort across 11 states targeting tens of millions of dollars in crime. Selected NBA games from early 2023 involving Rozier have come under scrutiny as part of this investigation, raising questions about professional sports' vulnerability to corruption.

The broader conspiracy highlighted the ongoing challenges that sports leagues face regarding integrity in the wake of legalized sports gambling. As investigations continue, many hope to restore trust in the games and individuals involved.