Former NBA Finals MVP and Denver basketball legend Chauncey Billups has posted a $5 million bond and pleaded not guilty after federal prosecutors accused him of participating in a sprawling illegal gambling and poker operation that allegedly used insider information connected to NBA teams.
Billups, now head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, used his Colorado home as collateral, according to court reporting from ESPNâs Ramona Shelburne, who was present in the Brooklyn courthouse Monday. His wife and three daughters attended the hearing. Neither Billups nor his attorney, Marc Mukasey, commented afterward, Shelburne reported.
Prosecutors Claim Billups Shared Team Plans Ahead of NBA Game
Getty Portland Trail Blazers Coach and Denver native Chauncey Billups departs after his arraignment hearing at U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
According to an indictment reviewed by Heavy Sports, federal prosecutors allege that Billups was part of an operation that organized high-stakes poker. He was also indirectly identified in the filing for sharing privileged lineup information about the Trail Blazers used in illegal sports bets.
A coach matching Billupsâs description allegedly tipped off an associate that Portland planned to rest key players before a March 2023 game against the Chicago Bulls, information prosecutors say was later exploited by bettors wagering on the game.
The indictment does not explicitly name Billups in this instance, but the timeline and description align with the Trail Blazersâ head coach at the time.
Billups has denied all charges.
Mukasey, Known for Trump and Major Cases, Now Represents Billups
Billups recently retained Marc Mukasey, a nationally known defense attorney whose clients have included former U.S. President Donald Trump. According to The Athletic, Mukasey is a former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York and the son of former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey.
His high-profile work includes:
- Defense of Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher, acquitted of murder in 2019
- Representation of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried during sentencing
- Multiple white-collar and national-security cases
Mukasey replaces Billupsâ previous attorney, Chris Heywood, who represented him at his October arraignment and publicly stated Billupsâ innocence at the time.
Judge Rejects Splitting Case, Aims for 2026 Trial
Billups pleaded not guilty Friday morning. Shelburne reported that prosecutors will soon turn over one terabyte of evidence to defense teams. The case involves 31 defendants, prompting debate over whether to split the group into smaller trials.
Several defense attorneys argued that separating defendants would unfairly disadvantage the early trials. The judge agreed and kept the group unified â for now. The judge also rejected claims that the case may take years, saying he intends to start the trial by September 2026.
The next hearing is scheduled for March 4.
Denverâs âMr. Big Shotâ Faces His Biggest Legal Fight
Billupsâ legal news reverberates heavily in Colorado, where his legacy remains deeply rooted. Born and raised in Denverâs Park Hill neighborhood, Billups starred at George Washington High School and became a standout at the University of Colorado.
Billups later returned home after winning a championship and NBA Finals MVP with the Detroit Pistons to star for the Denver Nuggets from 2008 to 2011, leading the franchise to the 2009 Western Conference Finals alongside Carmelo Anthony. He also had a brief stint with the Nuggets earlier in his career, playing 58 games during the 1998â99 and 1999â2000 seasons.
His tenure made him one of the most beloved figures in Nuggets history, cementing his reputation as âMr. Big Shot.â His commitment to Colorado continues through youth programs such as the Chauncey Billups Elite Basketball Academy.
Beyond basketball, Billups remains active locally through youth programs and mentorship.
His Colorado home, now tied to the $5 million bond, underscores how the case reaches far beyond the courtroom.
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