NBA scandal 'a turning point' for the league

News analysis

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It was not the publicity that the National Basketball Association (NBA) wanted during the first week of the season.

Federal Bureau of Investigation director Kash Patel announced on Oct 23 dozens of arrests across 11 states in a sprawling federal probe into alleged gambling rings, involving NBA coach Chauncey Billups, player Terry Rozier and New York organised crime families.

The drama is an unwelcome distraction for a league that just entered the first year of an 11-year, US$77 billion (S$100 billion) media rights deal. The most damning part is allegations of games being manipulated in what Patel called the NBA's "insider trading saga".

"This is definitely one that's going to break the trust of a lot of fans and it comes at a very challenging time because the season is brand new," said Matthew Bakowicz, a former sportsbook operator who is now director of the sports business management programme at American University's Kogod School of Business.

"It's going to be a turning point for the NBA." The league has placed Billups and Rozier on leave and said it is cooperating with investigators.

Prosecutors alleged that in 2023 Rozier, then playing for the Charlotte Hornets, tipped off co-conspirators that he planned to leave a game early. He collected US$100,000 for the tip as he underperformed in stats such as points and assists.

Billups was implicated in an underground poker ring that allegedly cheated players. The coach of the Portland Trail Blazers also allegedly gave nonpublic information on the team to a co-conspirator.