Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups apparently leaked insider info to gamblers that his team was planning to tank so they could place bets and win big, federal court documents allege.
Billups was not charged in that scheme, but appears to be identified as “co-conspirator 8” in the indictment.
The 49-year-old NBA Detroit Pistons champion allegedly tipped off a betting ring that his team was planning to tank a game against the Chicago Bulls on March 24, 2023 and that the Trail Blazers’ best player wouldn’t be playing, court papers allege.
Billups was arrested in a separate scheme charging him with accepting payments from the mob to play in fixed poker games to help attract victims who wanted a chance to play with a former sports pro. Those victims were allegedly fleeced of millions in games they never had a chance of winning, prosecutors claim.
But the famous hoopster is also linked to a separate indictment also unsealed Thursday, accusing Miami Heat guard Terry Roszier — aka “Scary Terry” — and Jones, and four others, of leaking secret insider information about NBA players and teams for sports betting.
While Billups is not charged in the second indictment, he’s described as a co-conspirator.
In the second case, “Co-Conspirator 8” is described as someone who played in the NBA from 1997 through 2014 and who has also been a coach in the league since at least 2021.
After Billups’ alleged tip-off, the Blazers were smoked by the Bulls 124-96.
Members of the scheme placed $132,000 in bets against the Blazers that night and walked away happy, an indictment alleges.
Billups’ agent declined to comment and hung up during a seconds-long call with The Post today.
By BEN KOCHMAN and PRISCILLA DeGREGORY/New York Post
