Ex-Celtics Guard Hires Trump Lawyer to Fight NBA Gambling Charges
Former Boston Celtics guard and Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups has hired one of the nation’s most prominent defense attorneys to battle federal gambling charges that have rocked the NBA — and tied three former Celtics to the league’s biggest integrity scandal in years.
According to The Athletic, Billups has hired Marc Mukasey, a high-profile trial lawyer who has represented former U.S. President Donald Trump, to handle his defense against wire-fraud and money-laundering conspiracy charges.
Billups Turns to Prominent White-Collar Defense Attorney
Mukasey, a former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York and the son of ex-U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey, is widely regarded as one of America’s top courtroom strategists in financial and corporate cases.
According to The Athletic report, Mukasey previously defended Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher, who was acquitted of murder in 2019, and FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried during sentencing in his multibillion-dollar fraud case. Mukasey also served as a legal adviser to Rudy Giuliani’s 2007 presidential campaign and represented Joe Sanberg, co-founder of fintech firm Aspiration, in an NBA-related salary-cap case involving Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers. Sanberg later pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud after admitting to defrauding investors of $248 million.
Now, Mukasey is representing Billups — the 2004 NBA Finals MVP and current Portland Trail Blazers head coach — as he faces potentially career-defining criminal charges.
Federal Allegations and Celtics Connection
In the indictments reviewed by
The 49-year-old coach, arrested in Oregon, has been placed on administrative leave by the Trail Blazers while the case proceeds. His former attorney, Chris Heywood, said last week that Billups “would not jeopardize” his Hall-of-Fame legacy, his reputation and freedom.
Two other former Celtics — Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA player Damon Jones — are also implicated in the widening probe. Prosecutors allege Rozier shared private injury information with a friend who then profited from insider bets, while Jones allegedly helped facilitate the illegal gambling ring.
From Boston Lottery Pick to Hall of Fame Player
Getty 25 Jun 1997: Guard Chauncey Billups of the Boston Celtics shakes hands with NBA Commissioner David Stern during the NBA Draft at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Billups began his NBA career in Boston, drafted third overall by the Celtics in 1997, before going on to win a championship with the Detroit Pistons and earning the nickname “Mr. Big Shot.” He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield in 2024, a crowning moment for one of the league’s most respected figures.
Rozier, beloved by Celtics fans from 2015 to 2019, helped Boston reach the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals, while Jones had a brief stint with the franchise during the 1998–99 season. Their shared ties to Boston have given the scandal an unsettling familiarity for local fans.
Badminton Betting Ban Mirrors NBA Investigation
The NBA’s ongoing gambling scandal comes as other global sports face similar integrity challenges. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) recently banned former Danish player and coach Joachim Persson for four years after he was filmed placing live bets courtside during a 2023 Japan Open match, according to
The similarities between the two cases are striking. Both involve allegations that individuals used insider access and confidential information for betting purposes. The incidents highlight the mounting challenge of maintaining sports integrity amid the rapid expansion of legalized gambling worldwide.
A Hall-of-Fame Legacy Under Scrutiny
For Billups, who spent part of his formative NBA years in Boston, the charges threaten to overshadow a Hall-of-Fame career defined by leadership and professionalism.
If convicted, Billups could face up to 20 years in prison per count, along with the potential loss of his coaching position and damage to his legacy.
The NBA continues to cooperate with federal authorities as the investigation broadens — with Boston fans watching uneasily as three familiar names fight to protect their reputations.
49ers predicted to trade for 4-time Pro Bowler with 72 sacks to fill void left by Nick Bosa injury
The NFL trade deadline is quickly approaching, and teams are scrambling to make the necessary moves to strengthen their rosters. One of the most intriguing teams to watch is the San Francisco 49ers, who are in desperate need of a dominant presence to replace Nick Bosa following his season-ending injury.
“Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Monday that defensive lineman Nick Bosa suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during Sunday's win over the Arizona Cardinals. Bosa will undergo season-ending surgery,” 49ers.com’s Briana Jeannel wrote.
The injuries to Bosa and other key 49ers players have put the team in such a difficult position that they’ve had to hold tryouts midseason — something rarely seen outside of kicker situations.
“Dealing with a laundry list of injuries to the defensive line, the 49ers held tryouts Tuesday with seven defensive linemen, per NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco. Tommy Akingbesote, Shakel Brown, Michale Dwumfour, Jonathan Garvin, Bruce Hector, Jah Joyner and DeMarcus Walker all worked out in Santa Clara,” NBC Sports’ Dan Dempster wrote.
With the trade deadline nearing, the 49ers have been predicted to strike a deal with the Miami Dolphins to acquire veteran pass rusher Matthew Judon.
“The 49ers are desperate for help on the edge after losing Nick Bosa (torn ACL) for the season. They traded for former Patriots second-round pick Keion White but could still use a high-end starter given the injuries they have at the position. San Francisco could try to pry Chubb or Phillips away from the Dolphins, but Judon would be the easier and cheaper alternative to consider. Perhaps they will value adding his experience after adding White's upside in the trade with the Patriots,” USA Today’s Jacob Camenker wrote.
A potential deal for Judon would make plenty of sense for San Francisco, as it would fill a major void in their defense. Judon brings valuable experience and has played for several playoff teams, so stepping into a contender’s locker room would be nothing new for him.
Judon is currently on a one-year deal, meaning if things don’t work out, the 49ers could move on easily. The veteran edge rusher just wants an opportunity to compete and win football games — something both he and San Francisco need right now.
