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NBA legend Kevin Garnett was one of several pro athletes who took part in private poker games allegedly organized by the Mafia-led illegal gambling ring being investigated by the FBI, according to a bombshell report.
Garnett has not been charged in connection to the alleged scheme.
Just two days into the new season, the NBA was engulfed in a crisis on Thursday after the federal government launched a series of arrests in relation to the alleged betting operation, with NBA coach Chauncey Billups and player Terry Rozier among those detained. Both Billups and Rozier deny the allegations.
The poker ring is allegedly tied to some of New York's most notorious crime families, with prosecutors saying that rigged games took place in Manhattan, the Hamptons and Las Vegas from 2019 to late 2023.
According to journalist Pablo Torre, a number of sports stars played in the private games run by those indicted by the FBI - including Garnett.
The 15-time NBA All-Star and 2004 MVP is alleged by Torre to have played in a poker game that the illegal ring organized back in 2019. However, there is no indication that he had any knowledge or involvement in the gambling scheme or any criminal activity. Prosecutors have not named him in the indictment and have not charged him in connection with any crime.
Daily Mail has approached Kevin Garnett's Hollywood production company, Content Cartel, for comment.
Kevin Garnett allegedly took part in poker games organized by a Mafia-led illegal gambling ring
NBA coach Chauncey Billups (left) and player Terry Rozier (right) are among those indicted by the FBI over the alleged betting operation
Garnett is widely considered one of the greatest power forwards in basketball history after becoming one of just five players to win both the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards.
He got his hands on an NBA Championship in 2008 while playing for the Boston Celtics.
While Garnett is not accused of any wrongdoing, Billups and Rozier are facing FBI charges over their alleged role in the illegal gambling scheme.
Billups is charged in the indictment alleging a brazen scheme to rig underground poker games, while Rozier is accused of participating in an illegal sports betting scheme using private insider NBA information, according to the indictment.
Chris Heywood, an attorney for Billups, told ESPN on Thursday night that his client is a 'man of integrity' who intends to fight the allegations against him.
'Anyone who knows Chauncey Billups knows he is a man of integrity; men of integrity do not cheat and defraud others,' Heywood said.
'To believe that Chauncey Billups did what the federal government is accusing him of is to believe that he would risk his hall-of-fame legacy, his reputation, and his freedom. He would not jeopardize those things for anything, let alone a card game.'
Rozier's attorney, James Trusty, claimed during the initial hearing that the NBA star is 'a man who doesn’t gamble.' Trusty later told reporters he believes the guard has a 'great case.'
There is no indication that former MVP Garnett had any knowledge of the gambling scheme
FBI Director Kash Patel announced the indictments in a press conference on Thursday
The alleged scheme set out in the indictment is said to have lured victims into rigged poker games, which took place in the Hamptons, Miami and Las Vegas as well as Manhattan, by giving them the chance to play alongside former pro athletes, including Billups and Damon Jones.
Rozier appeared in federal court in Orlando, Florida on Thursday afternoon. He was seen leaving the courthouse through a side door, having been released from custody following his arraignment.
A few hours later, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey was seen outside a courthouse in Portland, Oregon. Both men face money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy charges.
Later on Thursday, former Cleveland Cavaliers player Jones left a federal courthouse in Las Vegas. The 49-year-old is alleged to have been involved in the two separate, but related, illegal betting operations and was arrested following a federal indictment.
He is alleged to have provided inside information about NBA games to co-defendants who are said to have used it to place sports bets.
Jones was also named among 31 individuals allegedly involved in the illegal poker ring - which allegedly used NBA stars as 'face cards' to allegedly lure victims to the table.
