According to several US media reports on the 24th, several players and coaches of the American Professional Basketball League (NBA) were arrested on suspicion of involvement in illegal gambling.

According to the US "New York Times" on the 23rd, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) large-scale investigation found that the NBA has two categories of illegal gambling, one is the player "fake ball" and the sale of internal information of the team, by manipulating the game to help themselves wager profits in gambling, and the other is the conspiracy with gangs, using high-tech methods to steal money from underground casinos.

The most striking of the first category of illegal acts is the "James Match Information Leakage" case, which has retired player Damon Jones using the status of the Lakers' assistant coach, long-term selling information about the team's star LeBron James's injury, appearance and absence to others for profit.

Damon Jones (left) and LeBron James

In addition, players Rosie and Jottie Potter "play a fake ball" in their own games, withdrawing or deliberately performing poorly at critical moments under pretext such as injury, in order to make themselves and their teammates profit in the betting.

The representative of the second category of cases was Portland Pioneer team head coach Billups.The FBI investigation showed that Billups was suspected of joining multinational gangs, he used his identity to attract others to gamble, and then set up hidden cameras and other fraudulent devices in the casino to scam others for money.

It is worth mentioning that billups also hosted the first game of Chinese star Yang Hansen in NBA on the morning of his arrest. Some media believe that billups' arrest may have an impact on Yang Hansen's subsequent development.

Billups (middle) and Yang Hansen (right)

Several US media reported that as the investigation continues to deepen and more people are involved, this series of cases may be the most serious gambling scandal in NBA history. At present, the NBA has issued a notice announcing that Billups and others have been suspended, and said it will face the investigation results with the most serious attitude.