Since Jontay Porter pleaded guilty to illegal gambling last season, the league has been on notice. It has also been investigating Malik Beasley for the same. However, nobody expected heavy action against Chauncey Billups, the Portland Trail Blazers head coach. Not once had his name been mentioned in any gambling probe, yet the former Pistons star was arrested in the morning.

According to Tom Winter and Jonathan Dienst of NBC, Billups was arrested as part of a federal investigation into illegal gambling. They don’t believe the Trail Blazers coach did anything in games he coaches himself. There isn’t enough clarity yet to understand the charges behind the 49-year-old’s arrest.

This could prove to be catastrophic for Adam Silver and the NBA’s reputation. Billups isn’t the only person under the microscope. On the same morning, Miami Heat’s Terry Rozier was also arrested by the FBI, according to Shams Charania. The veteran point guard was previously cleared of an illegal betting investigation a few months ago.

The news has sent the NBA community into a frenzy. FBI’s Kash Patel, Joseph Nocellar Jr., and other law enforcement officials are expected to hold a press conference on Thursday at 10 AM ET to address the situation. Until then, the Trail Blazers will feel the most out of Billups’ absence. They just lost their opener to the Minnesota Timberwolves, suffering from Anthony Edwards’ sensational outing. Now, they will have to appoint an interim head coach while Chauncey Billups remains under investigation.

As a head coach, the former Pistons guard was entering his fifth season with the franchise. He has a record of 117-212, overseeing a young and often unstable Trail Blazers roster. The exact reason and details of his connection should be unveiled soon.

Adam Silver can’t catch a break

The NBA commissioner has had to deal with a flood of controversies in the offseason. It began with Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers’ possible cap circumvention allegations introduced by Pablo Torre. Those talks had quietened down with the league opening its investigation. After a successful slate of opening games thus far, the buzz about basketball started to take over.

But there’s no time to rest for Silver.

Chauncey Billups was a model example as a player and was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2024. Add to Terry Rozier’s arrest, which isn’t relevant to Billups and Beasley’s investigation for the same, everything must be chaotic around Adam Silver right now. The only relieving factor is that Beasley has been cleared by the federal authorities over possible ties to illegal gambling activities.

Depending on the nature of the case, Silver might be forced to levy serious punishment. For context, Jontay Porter received a lifetime ban from playing in the NBA ever again after pleading guilty. Until fully certain, such punishment won’t be expected for Billups or Rozier. But one thing’s for sure. It’s hard being Adam Silver right now.