The FBI has decided how to deal with Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier. Now, it’s time for Adam Silver and the NBA to make a call. As we know, the Commissioner has already cleared the Miami Heat guard of all wrongdoing in June this year. However, this time, with the federals involved, there is barely any chance of leniency.

Meanwhile, ESPN’s Shams Charania revealed the league’s punishment for Billups and Rozier. The NBA has announced:

“We are in the process of reviewing the federal indictments announced today. Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups are being placed on immediate leave from their teams, and we will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities. We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority.”

On Thursday morning, the FBI revealed charges against over 30 individuals linked to illicit gambling schemes. Among those apprehended were Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups. Meanwhile, authorities claim Billups engaged in organized mafia-style poker sessions, while Rozier allegedly enabled associates to profit from bets on his performances by voluntarily withdrawing from games due to injury. The indictments mark a sweeping crackdown on corruption within professional basketball circles.

In fact, the reports so far simply point out the deeper trench the feds are about to enter or have already walked in. Because 30 names? NBA personalities and mafia connections combined? That’s madness! Undoubtedly, Oct 23 is a dark day for the NBA.

The Chauncey Billups-Terry Rozier case involves New York’s “Five Families”

An 11-state investigation led to over 30 arrests and exposed links to the Bonanno, Gambino, and Genovese crime families, FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed. Chauncey Billups allegedly ran a nationwide, rigged poker network targeting unsuspecting players, with violence, extortion, and sophisticated money laundering involving cash, shell companies, and cryptocurrency. Meanwhile, Terry Rozier faced scrutiny after a March 23, 2023, however, the NBA and FBI found no wrongdoing. Later, Jontay Porter’s guilty plea revealed the NBA’s dark underbelly.

Now, the NBA gambling scandal has drawn the attention of four of New York’s infamous Five Families. With authorities pinpointing three: Bonanno, Gambino, and Genovese. These Italian-American crime syndicates trace back to 1931, organized by Salvatore Maranzano and later regulated by the Commission. Each family carries a distinct history and leadership, and law enforcement links them to racketeering, extortion, drug operations, and gambling. Their influence has long shaped organized crime in New York and beyond.

The Bonanno family hails from Castellammare del Golfo in Sicily and faced expulsion from the Commission in the early 1980s after the Donnie Brasco infiltration. On the other hand, the Gambino family rose to power under Carlo Gambino from 1957 to 1976, following Albert Anastasia’s assassination. Meanwhile, the Genovese family, led by Vito Genovese in its prime, earned elite status among the Five Families, reflecting lasting dominance and authority throughout the Mafia network across decades.

Thursday marks a seismic shakeup for the NBA. Federal indictments have pulled back the curtain on a tangled web of basketball stars and mafia power, exposing chaos in the league’s underbelly. As Billups and Rozier face immediate leave, the shadow of New York’s infamous families looms large, and the Commission’s reach echoes through decades of organized crime. The game’s integrity is under fire, and the league must navigate a storm like never before.