"Beginning as early as 2019, the defendants in this case orchestrated a large-scale operation, coordinating the use of wireless cheating technology to rig poker games across the United States, including in the Hamptons, Las Vegas,Miami, and Manhattan. The scheme specifically targeted victims, referred to as 'fish,' who were often enticed to participate in these rigged games by the opportunity to play alongside former professional athletes, known as 'face cards,' " U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said in a news conference on Thursday. "Among these face cards wereChauncey Billups, a former NBA player and currently the head coach of thePortland Trail Blazers, and Damon Jones, also a former NBA player and coach. What the victims, or 'fish,' did not realize was that everyone else at the poker game, from the dealer to the other players, including the face cards, was complicit in the scam."
Who is Chauncey Billups? Blazers coach charged in FBI gambling probe
Chauncey Billups played college basketball at the University of Colorado and was selected third overall in the 1997 NBA Draft by theBoston Celtics.
However, he spent the majority of his career with theDetroit Pistons, where he won an NBA Finals championship in 2004 against theLos Angeles Lakersand was named the Finals MVP for his outstanding performance.
Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Pistons gets around Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of game four of the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers on June 13, 2004 at The Palace in Auburn Hills, Mich. The Pistons won the game 88-80 to lead the best-of-seven game series 3-1.
(JEFF HAYNES, AFP via Getty Images)
Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Pistons dunks the basketball against the Los Angeles Lakers during the third quarter in game four of the 2004 NBA Finals on June 13, 2004 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Mich.
(Elsa, Getty Images)
Series MVP Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Pistons celebrates after beating the Los Angeles Lakers in game five of the NBA Finals to win the championship on June 15, 2004 at The Palace in Auburn Hills, Mich.. The Pistons won the game 100-87 to win the best-of-seven game series 4-1.
(JEFF HAYNES, AFP via Getty Images)
Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Pistons smiles after being award the Most Valuable Player trophy after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of the 2004 NBA Finals at the Palace of Auburn Hills on March 15, 2004 in Auburn Hills, Mich.
(Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images)
Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Pistons gets to the basket in front of LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2006 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 15, 2006 in Cleveland.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Pistons drives against Larry Hughes of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2007 NBA Playoffs on May 27, 2007 in Cleveland.
(Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)
Chauncey Billups of the Denver Nuggets drives drives to the basket against the Los Angeles Lakers during NBA action on April 8, 2010 in Denver.
(Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)
Chauncey Billups of the New York Knicks goes up for a basket against Andrew Bogut of the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 23, 2011 in New York City.
(Chris Trotman, Getty Images)
Chauncey Billups of the Los Angeles Clippers drives around Alec Burks of the Utah Jazz on Feb. 23, 2013 in Los Angeles.
(Stephen Dunn, Getty Images)
Head coach Chauncey Billups of the Portland Trail Blazers yells during the first quarter of the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Moda Center on March 6, 2024 in Portland.
(Alika Jenner, Getty Images)
Chauncey Billups poses for a portrait during the 2024 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Gala on Oct. 12, 2024 in Uncasville, Conn.
(Maddie Meyer, Getty Images)
Chauncey Billups speaks during the 2024 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Induction on Oct. 13, 2024 in Springfield, Mass.
(Joe Buglewicz, Getty Images)
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups talks with Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Moda Center on Oct. 22, 2025 in Portland, Ore.
(Jaime Valdez, Imagn Images)
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Mr. Big Shot: Highlights from Chauncey Billups' NBA career
Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Pistons gets around Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of game four of the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers on June 13, 2004 at The Palace in Auburn Hills, Mich. The Pistons won the game 88-80 to lead the best-of-seven game series 3-1.
(JEFF HAYNES, AFP via Getty Images)
1/13
Mr. Big Shot: Highlights from Chauncey Billups' NBA career
Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Pistons gets around Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of game four of the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers on June 13, 2004 at The Palace in Auburn Hills, Mich. The Pistons won the game 88-80 to lead the best-of-seven game series 3-1.
(JEFF HAYNES, AFP via Getty Images)
2/13
Mr. Big Shot: Highlights from Chauncey Billups' NBA career
Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Pistons dunks the basketball against the Los Angeles Lakers during the third quarter in game four of the 2004 NBA Finals on June 13, 2004 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Mich.
(Elsa, Getty Images)
3/13
Mr. Big Shot: Highlights from Chauncey Billups' NBA career
Series MVP Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Pistons celebrates after beating the Los Angeles Lakers in game five of the NBA Finals to win the championship on June 15, 2004 at The Palace in Auburn Hills, Mich.. The Pistons won the game 100-87 to win the best-of-seven game series 4-1.
(JEFF HAYNES, AFP via Getty Images)
4/13
Mr. Big Shot: Highlights from Chauncey Billups' NBA career
Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Pistons smiles after being award the Most Valuable Player trophy after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of the 2004 NBA Finals at the Palace of Auburn Hills on March 15, 2004 in Auburn Hills, Mich.
(Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images)
5/13
Mr. Big Shot: Highlights from Chauncey Billups' NBA career
Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Pistons gets to the basket in front of LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2006 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 15, 2006 in Cleveland.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
6/13
Mr. Big Shot: Highlights from Chauncey Billups' NBA career
Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Pistons drives against Larry Hughes of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2007 NBA Playoffs on May 27, 2007 in Cleveland.
(Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)
7/13
Mr. Big Shot: Highlights from Chauncey Billups' NBA career
Chauncey Billups of the Denver Nuggets drives drives to the basket against the Los Angeles Lakers during NBA action on April 8, 2010 in Denver.
(Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)
8/13
Mr. Big Shot: Highlights from Chauncey Billups' NBA career
Chauncey Billups of the New York Knicks goes up for a basket against Andrew Bogut of the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 23, 2011 in New York City.
(Chris Trotman, Getty Images)
9/13
Mr. Big Shot: Highlights from Chauncey Billups' NBA career
Chauncey Billups of the Los Angeles Clippers drives around Alec Burks of the Utah Jazz on Feb. 23, 2013 in Los Angeles.
(Stephen Dunn, Getty Images)
10/13
Mr. Big Shot: Highlights from Chauncey Billups' NBA career
Head coach Chauncey Billups of the Portland Trail Blazers yells during the first quarter of the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Moda Center on March 6, 2024 in Portland.
(Alika Jenner, Getty Images)
11/13
Mr. Big Shot: Highlights from Chauncey Billups' NBA career
Chauncey Billups poses for a portrait during the 2024 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Gala on Oct. 12, 2024 in Uncasville, Conn.
(Maddie Meyer, Getty Images)
12/13
Mr. Big Shot: Highlights from Chauncey Billups' NBA career
Chauncey Billups speaks during the 2024 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Induction on Oct. 13, 2024 in Springfield, Mass.
(Joe Buglewicz, Getty Images)
13/13
Mr. Big Shot: Highlights from Chauncey Billups' NBA career
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups talks with Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Moda Center on Oct. 22, 2025 in Portland, Ore.
(Jaime Valdez, Imagn Images)
Chauncey Billups stats for playing career
During his 17-year career, Chauncey Billups averaged 15.2 points, 5.4 assists, and 2.9 rebounds over 1,043 games. Billups totaled 15,802 points and had shooting percentages of 41.5% from the field and 38.7% from three-point range.point range.
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Chauncey Billups' coaching record
In five seasons as the head coach of thePortland Trail Blazers, Billups has coached a total of 329 games, achieving 117 wins and 212 losses since 2021.
