Adam Silver faces crisis amid betting scandal, mafia ties, and NBA turmoil

The NBA is weathering an institutional storm that’s shaking its foundations. Commissioner Adam Silver appeared visibly affected on national television Friday night during halftime of the Celtics-Knicks game. His goal was to address the scandal involving Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, both caught in a federal probe into illegal betting and fraud. “I felt a knot in my stomach. It was very painful,” Silver admitted, as reported by Marca.

The indictment, made public Thursday, implicates over 30 individuals in two criminal schemes. One involves insider betting on NBA games. The other centers on rigged high-stakes poker games allegedly backed by organized crime families in New York. Rozier, currently with the Heat, is accused of faking an injury in March 2023 while playing for the Hornets, allowing his associates to cash in over $200,000 in bets. Billups, meanwhile, is charged with participating in poker games manipulated with marked cards and X-ray tables—tools used to defraud wealthy players. Adam Silver finds himself at the center of a credibility crisis.

Silver confirms league action

Adam Silver stated that both Rozier and Billups are on administrative leave. He also revealed that the league had previously investigated Rozier after legal sportsbooks flagged suspicious betting activity. “Terry cooperated, handed over his phone, and sat for an interview. We couldn’t find enough evidence to proceed, but clearly, it doesn’t look good,” the commissioner acknowledged. Silver also pointed out the NBA’s limited investigative powers compared to federal authorities. “They can subpoena, jail people, and do things we simply can’t.”

Cassidy Hubbarth interviewed NBA Commissioner Adam Silver during Celtics-Knicks on Prime. pic.twitter.com/KB42EssfpU

— NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) October 25, 2025

The scandal comes at a time when the NBA, under Adam Silver’s leadership, has embraced sports betting as part of the fan experience. In recent years, the league has signed deals with major betting operators, integrated odds into broadcasts, and promoted betting activations in arenas. Now, Silver and the NBA face a credibility test that may force a strategic rethink.

Big scandal

Billups denies the charges, but his alleged ties to mafia families like Bonanno, Gambino, Lucchese, and Genovese—according to prosecutors—threaten the NBA’s image. He was reportedly used as a public figure to lure high-profile players into rigged games held in private New York venues.

Adam Silver, steady but clearly affected, apologized to fans. “We’re going to face this head-on. This reminds us that new opportunities bring new responsibilities. We have to stay vigilant. We owe it to the sport and to everyone who loves it.”