Ted Cruz Question NBA Integrity After Gambling Corruption Charges

The letter addresses a lack of integrity in the NBA following recent gambling corruption charges against current and former league figures. Citing the Committee’s jurisdiction over professional sports, the senators demanded a written response and documents by November 10, 2025.

Federal Indictments Compromise “The Sport’s Magic”

The senators expressed deep concern that the recent allegations threaten the “magic” and integrity of the game. They warned that repeated betting scandals could lead the American public to believe “all sports are corrupt.” The letter specifically cites federal indictments from October 16, 2025, which charged multiple individuals with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.

The letter highlights three examples of how players and coaches allegedly used nonpublic information or rigged wagers:

Terry Rozier’s Prop Bets (March 23, 2023): Rozier, a current Miami Heat player, allegedly informed a network of acquaintances that he would sit out a game against the New Orleans Pelicans due to injury. The network placed prop bets that Rozier would score under the betting line. After Rozier played less than ten minutes and scored five points, the conspirators won the bets, with profits allegedly flowing back to Rozier as payment for the insider information.

Co-Conspirator 8 and Organized Crime: The letter referenced an indictment suggesting that an individual widely described as current Portland Trail Blazers Coach Chauncey Billups (Co-Conspirator 8) informed conspirators that key players would not play. The alleged goal was to ensure the Trail Blazers lost, improving their chances for a favorable draft pick. The letter noted that another indictment suggests “ties between certain NBA players and coaches and organized crime.”

Damon Jones Insider Trading (February 9, 2023): Former player and unofficial Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Damon Jones allegedly sold or facilitated the sale of confidential injury status information regarding a “prominent player.” This information allowed bettors to successfully wager on a Milwaukee Bucks victory.

Senate Demands on NBA’s Internal Investigations

The senators strongly questioned the effectiveness of the NBA’s internal process, noting reports that the league had investigated the Rozier incident but “did not find a violation of NBA rules.”

The letter presented Commissioner Silver with a detailed list of demands for documentation and policy plans:

• Policy Documentation: Documents describing all NBA policies and procedures regarding sports betting, gambling, or game-fixing by players, coaches, staff, or owners.
• Investigation Records: A list of all investigations conducted between 2020 and 2025 related to betting rule violations, along with all supporting documentation, evidence from third parties like U.S. Integrity, and final findings.
• Rozier Findings: The final memorandum, report, or findings generated by the NBA’s internal review of Terry Rozier’s alleged gambling or performance irregularities.
• Future Plans: A detailed explanation of how the NBA plans to revise its enforcement structure and ensure NBA players, employees, coaches, and owners do not have ties to organized crime.

The Committee requires the NBA to submit all requested written responses and documents by November 10, 2025.