Federal prosecutors in the United States have unveiled a major indictment, charging a group of 17 basketball players with conspiring to rig the outcomes of games in both US college basketball and the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). Among those named is former Chicago Bulls shooting guard Antonio Blakeney.
Details of the Federal Indictment
The charges were made public after an indictment was unsealed in a Philadelphia court. Federal officials are scheduled to formally announce the details of the case later on Thursday. This latest scandal follows a separate but significant gambling controversy that rocked the NBA in October, leading to multiple arrests including that of Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups.
In the earlier case, Terry Rozier pleaded not guilty in December to charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Prosecutors allege he assisted friends in winning bets by informing them he planned to exit a game early due to a supposed injury. The game in question took place in March 2023 while Rozier was still with the Charlotte Hornets.
Rozier played for only nine minutes and 36 seconds against the New Orleans Pelicans before leaving, citing a foot issue. He did not return for the rest of that season and was later traded to the Miami Heat. He was released on a $3 million bond and his next court appearance is set for March. He remains on unpaid leave from the Heat.
Wider Network of Illegal Gambling Exposed
Chauncey Billups pleaded not guilty in November to charges connected to a separate scheme to fix high-stakes poker games allegedly backed by organised crime figures. The arrests of Rozier, Billups, and former NBA guard Damon Jones were part of a sweeping federal operation that dismantled illegal gambling rings tied to professional sports, netting more than 30 individuals.
This new indictment involving Antonio Blakeney and 16 other players suggests a broadening of the investigation into corruption within basketball at multiple levels, now explicitly including the collegiate system and the professional league in China.
Ongoing Impact and Next Steps
The unfolding cases highlight persistent vulnerabilities to gambling-related corruption in sport. The federal crackdown, which has already implicated NBA figures and alleged Mafia connections, now casts a wider net over the global basketball community. The charges against the group including Blakeney represent a significant escalation, targeting the integrity of games beyond the NBA's direct jurisdiction.
As the legal process moves forward, the sports world awaits further details on the specific games allegedly manipulated and the full extent of the conspiracy. The scandal continues to raise serious questions about safeguarding sport from illicit gambling influence.
