Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat point guard Terry Rozier won’t receive paychecks while on leave due to federal gambling-related charges, ESPN reported Wednesday.
While on leave of absence, salaries for Billups and Rozer are held and placed in escrow pending the outcome of their criminal cases, per the report.
Billups, 49, reportedly earns a salary of about $4.7 million with Portland, while Rozier, 31, is earning $26.6 million in the final season of his current contract.
Billups and Rozier were arrested on Oct. 23. Authorities charged Billups in connection with an illegal poker operation that allegedly has ties to the mafia, while Rozier is accused of manipulating his performance during a game to benefit illegal wagering.
The arrests stemmed from of a multiyear investigation that spanned 11 states. Federal prosecutors said a total of 34 people were arrested under separate investigations into betting and illegal poker, including 13 members of the mafia and their associates.
Billups and Rozier have both denied the allegations and vowed to fight the charges.
Billups played 17 years in the NBA, winning a championship as the Finals MVP with the Detroit Pistons in 2004. The five-time All-Star guard entered the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024.
Billups coached the Blazers to a combined 117-211 (.357) record in his first four seasons from 2021-22 to 2024-25.
Rozier entered the NBA as a first-round draft pick by Boston in 2015. He has averaged 13.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 665 career games (381 starts) with the Celtics (2015-19), Charlotte Hornets (2019-24) and Heat.
–Field Level Media
