The National Basketball Association (NBA) has initiated a severe and wide-ranging clampdown on internal leaks and the manipulation of on-court performance. This decisive action follows a series of high-profile federal indictments related to illegal sports gambling, which have implicated a current player, a head coach, and a former star in a scandal allegedly connected to organised crime.
Six-Point Plan to Safeguard Integrity
In a memo distributed to all teams on Friday, league officials, after consulting with team owners and the Board of Governors, outlined a brutal new strategy. The crackdown will focus on six critical areas for reform, specifically designed to shield the sport from corruption.
The plan directly targets the practices of tanking, inaccurate injury reporting, and player prop bets. Furthermore, the NBA is committing to a complete overhaul of its gambling education programmes for players and staff, aiming to prevent a repeat of the current crisis.
New protocols are promised to protect team personnel from harassment by bettors and to enhance the league's ability to detect suspicious betting patterns on its games.
The Scandal That Forced the NBA's Hand
The urgent reforms come in the wake of shocking arrests made in October. Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, and former NBA assistant Damon Jones were among 34 individuals detained by federal authorities.
Prosecutors allege that Rozier and Jones provided confidential injury details to bettors, giving them an unfair advantage in the markets. In a separate but related indictment, Billups was accused of involvement in a Mafia-led poker ring that allegedly defrauded victims of $7 million.
Investigators claim a co-conspirator matching Billups' description tipped off a bettor that the Trail Blazers would rest stars against the Chicago Bulls in 2023 before the news was officially announced.
Specific Reforms: Injury Reports, Tanking, and Prop Bets
The memo, obtained by ESPN, details concrete changes. Teams must now submit injury reports in a strict window between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. local time on game days. Public reports on NBA.com will be updated every 15 minutes, a significant increase from the previous hourly schedule.
To combat 'tanking'—losing games deliberately to secure better draft picks—the league is considering alterations to rules on draft pick protection and the draft lottery. "This review remains ongoing and we will continue to solicit input from relevant team stakeholders as this work proceeds," the league stated.
Finally, the NBA is moving to restrict the types of 'prop bets' (wagers on specific player performances) that sportsbooks can offer. Proposed changes include limits on wager amounts for certain statistics and a crackdown on 'under' bets. The league asserts that sports leagues should have control over the types of bets offered on their games, a position it will pursue through negotiations with betting operators and regulators.
Current Status of the Case
At the start of the month, Miami Heat star Terry Rozier pleaded not guilty to wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges in a Brooklyn federal court. The 31-year-old was released on a $3 million personal recognizance bond, secured against his Florida home and another property.
Magistrate Judge Clay Kaminsky ordered Rozier not to gamble, possess firearms, or contact victims, co-defendants, or witnesses. Rozier, who remains on indefinite leave from the Heat, is restricted to travelling only to Florida, Ohio, New York, and Long Island without prior approval. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for March 3.
