Former Detroit Pistons Finals MVP and current Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has hired prominent defense attorney Marc Mukasey, best known for representing former U.S. President Donald Trump, to defend him against federal gambling and fraud charges that have shaken the NBA.
Billups, a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee who led Detroit to the 2004 NBA championship, faces two counts — conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering — according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Billups Retains Veteran Trial Lawyer
Getty Defense attorneys Marc Mukasey (L) and Tim Parlatore react outside military court after Navy Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher was acquitted of premeditated murder at Naval Base San Diego July 2, 2019.
According to The Athletic, Billups retained Mukasey, a former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York and the son of former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey. The attorney has handled several high-profile white-collar and national-security cases, including the defense of Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher, who was acquitted of murder charges in 2019, and the representation of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried during sentencing in 2024.
Mukasey replaces Billups’ initial counsel, Chris Heywood, who represented the coach during his Oct. 23 arraignment and publicly maintained his client’s innocence.
Trail Blazers Confirm Suspension
The Trail Blazers issued a statement acknowledging Billups’ legal situation and confirming his immediate suspension following his arrest last week.
“We are aware of the allegations involving head coach Chauncey Billups, and the Portland Trail Blazers are fully cooperating with the investigation,” the statement read. “Billups has been placed on immediate leave, and Tiago Splitter will assume head-coaching duties in the interim. Any further questions should be directed to the NBA.”
The Blazers have gone 3-1 under Splitter since Billups’ arrest, maintaining early-season competitiveness while the case unfolds.
Details of the Federal Case
Federal prosecutors allege that Billups participated in an illegal gambling and poker operation that used insider information to influence outcomes and lure wealthy participants. According to the indictment reviewed by Heavy Sports, a coach matching Billups’s descriptions allegedly tipped off an associate that the Trail Blazers planned to rest key players before a March 2023 game against the Chicago Bulls — information that was allegedly exploited by bettors.
Billups, 49, was arrested in Oregon and released on bail. He has not entered a plea, and no trial date has been set.
A Stunning Fall for a Detroit Champion
For Detroit fans, the allegations mark a sharp turn for one of the city’s most respected sports figures. Nicknamed “Mr. Big Shot” for his late-game heroics, Billups played six seasons with the Pistons from 2002 to 2008, earning five All-Star selections and the 2004 Finals MVP after leading the franchise to its third championship.
Billups’ leadership and poise defined the “Goin’ to Work” Pistons era, a team celebrated for its defense, discipline, and unity. He retired in 2014 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2024 before transitioning to coaching with the Trail Blazers in 2021.
Global Sports Under Gambling Scrutiny
Billups’ indictment comes amid heightened scrutiny of sports-related gambling worldwide. Earlier this year, the Badminton World Federation banned Danish coach and former player Joachim Persson for four years, according to Gambling Insider, after he was found to have placed in-play bets during a match at the Japan Open — a case of exploiting insider information parallel to the NBA’s widening investigation.
Billups remains on administrative leave pending the outcome of both the federal and NBA investigations. If convicted on both counts, he could face up to 40 years in prison.
For Detroit fans, the case represents an unexpected and sobering chapter for one of the franchise’s greatest icons — a player once defined by composure under pressure, now preparing for the toughest defense of his career.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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