Adam Silver (Getty Images) NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Friday that he was “deeply concerned” by the illegal betting and gambling that has rocked basketball.In his first public comments since the scandal broke on Thursday, Silver said he was hit hard by the news – “I had a pit in my stomach. It was very upsetting.”“My first reaction was that I was deeply concerned,” Silver said in an interview with Amazon Prime during their coverage of the New York Knicks’ home game against the Boston Celtics on Friday.“Nothing is more important to the league and its fans than the integrity of the competition.”Miami Heat player Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups were arrested Thursday by U.S. authorities as part of a nationwide investigation into sports betting and gambling.Both were suspended indefinitely from the NBA following the indictment.Rozier and former NBA player Damon Jones were arrested for their alleged involvement in a betting scheme that prosecutors say provided bettors with inside information about injuries and game absences between December 2022 and March 2024.Rozier was involved in the 2023 game while playing for the Charlotte Hornets where he left the game early due to a leg injury. He reportedly advised partners that he would leave early, allowing them to make a strong bet that he would finish below the expected statistical level in the game.The NBA said in January it found no evidence Rozier violated league rules.“Then we looked at the situation,” Silver said. “And when there was that aberration betting, we honestly couldn’t find anything.“Terry was cooperative at the time. He gave the league office his phone. He sat down for an interview and we ultimately concluded that despite this aberrant behavior, we didn’t have enough evidence to move forward.”While the NBA’s investigation came up empty, federal prosecutors found enough evidence to press charges.“We’ve been working with law enforcement,” Silver said. “The league is working together, that was more than two years ago. “The federal government has subpoena power. They can threaten people with jail. They can do different things that the league office can’t do, so we’ve been working with them ever since.”Silver noted that Rozier has not been proven guilty.“What they announced yesterday was an indictment, so 2.5 years later he still hasn’t been convicted of anything,” Silver said.“Obviously it doesn’t look good, but now he’s been put on administrative leave, so you know there’s a balance between protecting people’s rights and investigating.”Billups was not named in the sports betting indictment, but he was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering for his alleged involvement in what prosecutors called rigged mob-related poker games.
