Former Detroit Pistons star and beloved NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups appeared in a Brooklyn federal court on Friday, posting a massive $5 million bond in a sweeping sports gambling and racketeering investigation, according to ESPNâs Ramona Shelburne.
Billups, who led the Pistons to the 2004 championship as âMr. Big Shot,â pleaded not guilty after prosecutors listed him among 31 defendants facing allegations tied to illegal gambling activities. Billups did not speak to reporters as he exited the courthouse, Shelburne reported.
To secure the bond, Billups put up his Colorado home as collateral, with his wife and daughter co-signing the agreement, Shelburne reported. All three of his daughters and his wife were physically present in court, underscoring the gravity of the allegations now surrounding the Detroit icon.
Judge Expects Quick Trial Despite Complex Case
Federal prosecutors told the court they have one terabyte of evidence to turn over during discovery, according to Shelburne. One defense lawyer suggested the case might take years given the complexity and number of defendants. However, the judge pushed back, stating he intends to bring the case to trial by September 2026.
Federal prosecutors allege that Billups participated in an illegal gambling and poker operation that used insider information to influence outcomes and lure wealthy participants. According to the indictment reviewed by Heavy Sports, a coach matching Billupsâs descriptions allegedly tipped off an associate that the Trail Blazers planned to rest key players before a March 2023 game against the Chicago Bulls  â information that was allegedly exploited by bettors.
Getty Portland Trail Blazers Coach and former Detroit Pistons star Chauncey Billups departs after his arraignment hearing at U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
The court also debated whether to break the defendants into smaller trial groups. Prosecutors argued it would be logistically easier with 31 total defendants, but multiple defense attorneys protested that grouping could unfairly disadvantage the first batch of defendants. The judge ultimately sided with the defense â keeping all 31 defendants together for now.
Billups faces two counts â conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering â according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Next Hearing Set for March; Discovery Begins
With such a massive volume of evidence to turn over, most of the legal movement in the near future will be behind the scenes. Discovery distribution to defense teams is expected to take months. The next hearing is scheduled for March 4, 2025.
Billups’ attorney Marc Mukasey also did not speak to reporters, according to Shelburne.
Mukasey is best known for representing former U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to The Athletic , Billups retained Mukasey, a former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York and the son of former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey. The attorney has handled several high-profile white-collar and national-security cases, including the defense of Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher, who was acquitted of murder charges in 2019, and the representation of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried during sentencing in 2024.
Mukasey replaces Billupsâ initial counsel, Chris Heywood, who represented the coach during his Oct. 23 arraignment and publicly maintained his client’s innocence .
Beloved Pistons Icon
Nicknamed âMr. Big Shotâ for his late-game heroics, Billups played six seasons with the Pistons from 2002 to 2008, earning five All-Star selections and the 2004 Finals MVP after leading the franchise to its third championship.
Billupsâ leadership and poise defined the “Goin’ to Work† Pistons era, a team celebrated for its defense, discipline, and unity. He retired in 2014 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2024 before transitioning to coaching with the Trail Blazers in 2021.
Everything he’s worked hard for is now under threat with the federal charges he’s currently facing.
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