The NBA finds itself in turmoil after federal prosecutors arrested 35 individuals this week, including prominent figures within the league, in a sweeping sports-gambling and rigged-poker investigation.

Among those taken into custody were Terry Rozier, a guard for the Miami Heat, and Chauncey Billups, head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, both facing charges related to illegal betting and conspiracy.

The arrests stem from at least two interlinked investigations.

In one, the FBI alleges Rozier shared inside information and profited by under-performing in a March 2023 game while bettors capitalised on prop-betting lines linked to his statistical output.

In the other, Billups is accused of involvement in a Mafia-backed rigged poker scheme using tampered equipment, hidden cameras and manipulated players, in which Billups and others allegedly received share of criminal proceeds.

In response, NBA commissioner Adam Silver issued a rare on-camera statement during a live broadcast, saying he was “deeply disturbed” and that the integrity of competition is “nothing more important” to the league and its fans.

He revealed the league had monitored irregular betting activity involving Rozier’s former team and game, but had found “insufficient evidence” at the time to impose disciplinary action.

The scandal uncovers a stark reversal for a league that once hawked legal gambling as a path to revenue and transparency.

Silver had long advocated for legalised sports betting in the United States, arguing it offered clarity over underground wagering.

But in recent days he urged sportsbooks to scale back prop bets — especially those tied to two-way players or marginal participants — and called for a unified federal regulatory framework to reduce loopholes and manipulation risk.

While the NBA has placed both Billups and Rozier on administrative leave, the investigations are ongoing and the league faces heightened scrutiny from regulators, fans and partners.

Teams are also redoubling internal education and compliance measures for players, coaches and staff.

The crisis comes amid the league’s opening week, casting a shadow over the season and imperilling relationships with betting operators, sponsors and broadcasters.

At stake is not only the reputation of the league but the broader question of how professional sport can safely coexist with an expansive legal-betting market.

The NBA now must chart a course that protects its product while addressing the vulnerabilities that legalisation once promised to eliminate.