The NBA is no stranger to drama, but the latest gambling scandal has sent shockwaves through the league, leaving no team untouched—even those not directly involved. The Chicago Bulls, a franchise steeped in history and pride, suddenly find themselves at the heart of the controversy, not as perpetrators but as victims of alleged game-fixing orchestrated by opponents and outside actors. With an ongoing FBI investigation and the recent arrests of high-profile figures, the league is bracing for a reckoning that could reshape its policies and public image for years to come.
The scandal first came to light with the arrest of Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, who was serving as head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers at the time of the incident in question. According to official indictments, Rozier is accused of fixing his own prop lines by faking injuries to exit games early, giving co-conspirators the chance to profit by betting the under on his statistics. Billups, meanwhile, faces charges related to illegally tampered poker games and is also allegedly tied to a broader sports rigging operation.
The Chicago Bulls’ involvement stems from a March 24, 2023 game against the Trail Blazers, when a co-conspirator allegedly tipped off a sports bettor that Portland would deliberately tank the contest in order to improve their draft lottery odds. At that point in the season, the Trail Blazers were already out of playoff contention, holding a 32-40 record with just ten games left. True to the tip, the Bulls cruised to a commanding 124-96 win—a result now cast in a suspicious light as the investigation unravels.
While no Bulls players have been implicated in the scandal, the team has found itself swept up in the league-wide fallout. Both Rozier and Billups were placed on leave by the NBA following their arrests and released after initial hearings. The FBI’s probe, reportedly linked to mafia-backed gambling operations, has ignited fears that the integrity of NBA games—long considered sacrosanct—can be compromised by individuals with outside financial stakes.
For Bulls head coach Billy Donovan, the revelations have struck a personal chord. Donovan, who has enjoyed a “really, really good relationship” with Billups during their overlapping years in the NBA, expressed his shock and sadness to reporters after practice. “You just get surprised by those things,” Donovan said. “I’m sure we don’t have all the details. There’s probably more to come out. But it’s just sad that they’re dealing with that personally as human beings and the league’s dealing with it as well.”
Donovan’s comments reflect a broader sense of unease among NBA coaches and players. The league, he emphasized, is “very adamant about this stuff” and has long prioritized education around gambling. The Bulls themselves facilitate annual seminars to educate players on the risks and realities of sports betting, while the NBA has ramped up resources for rookies and incoming players in the wake of the 2018 Supreme Court decision that paved the way for state-level legalization of sports betting.
“Gambling is a big problem—not only here, but worldwide,” Bulls center Nikola Vucevic said on October 24, 2025. “Now that it’s gotten into sports, a lot of people are involved in it. A lot of people get stuck and it’s hard to get out. It’s available on your phone. All you’ve got to do is download the app. We as players feel it a lot when we step on the court.”
Vucevic’s remarks highlight a growing tension in the NBA: the blurring lines between fandom and financial interest. Gone are the days when cheers and jeers from the crowd were solely about the team’s performance or the season’s stakes. Now, Vucevic notes, much of the banter he hears is directly tied to fans’ personal betting parlays. “I need 10 rebounds! Don’t take any 3s!” fans shout from the stands, sometimes as young as 14 or 15 years old. “Honestly, it pisses me off because it’s disrespectful to the game,” Vucevic added. “We put so much work in, try to do the right things, try to play the right way and win for our team and people focus on if I’m going to get 10 rebounds or not.”
This shift in fan behavior is a direct result of the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that struck down a federal ban on sports betting, ushering in a new era of app-based wagering. The NBA, like other major sports leagues, has scrambled to adapt, offering players anonymous hotlines, legal counsel, and robust internal education programs to prevent match fixing and illicit gambling activity. Yet, as the current scandal makes clear, these efforts have not been enough to keep all bad actors at bay.
The FBI’s ongoing investigation and the pending court cases against Billups and Rozier are poised to set a new precedent for how the NBA handles illicit gambling behavior among players and staff. League officials and fans alike are anxiously awaiting the outcomes, recognizing that the consequences could reverberate far beyond the individuals currently facing charges. The NBA’s reputation, the trust of its fanbase, and the very integrity of the sport hang in the balance.
For the Bulls, the timing of the scandal couldn’t be more disruptive. On October 25, 2025, the team was scheduled to play its first road game of the season against the Orlando Magic. While the focus for most teams at this stage of the season is on building chemistry and chasing early wins, the Bulls must also contend with the shadow of the scandal and the questions it raises about the league’s future.
Despite the turmoil, the Bulls have tried to maintain a sense of normalcy. The organization’s proactive approach to gambling education has drawn praise, and no Bulls players have been implicated in the investigation as of the latest reports. Still, the situation remains fluid, with new details emerging as law enforcement and league officials dig deeper into the web of impropriety.
As the NBA waits for the dust to settle, the Chicago Bulls and their peers are left to navigate an uncertain landscape. The lessons of this scandal—about vigilance, education, and the ever-present risks of legalized sports betting—will shape the league’s policies and culture for years to come. For now, all eyes remain on the ongoing investigation, the fate of those accused, and the resilience of a league determined to protect the integrity of its game.
