Trail Blazers Appoint Former Player as Interim Head Coach Following Chauncey Billups Arrest
The NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers have appointed Tiago Splitter as interim head coach following the arrest of Chauncey Billups. Billups was taken into custody by the FBI due to allegations involving mafia-influenced illegal poker games.
Billups Arrested Amid Serious Allegations
Chauncey Billups was placed on leave after being arrested on Thursday. He was entering his fifth season as head coach of the Trail Blazers at the time of his arrest. The FBI’s investigation points to involvement in rigged poker games linked to several New York mafia families.
Mafia Involvement and Poker Scheme
The investigation led by FBI Director Kash Patel revealed that four of the five major mafia families were implicated in the poker scheme. These include:
- Bonanno
- Gambino
- Genovese
- Lucchese
Sources indicate that the conspirators used various devices to cheat unsuspecting players, costing victims hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Tiago Splitter Steps In as Interim Coach
Tiago Splitter has been assigned as the interim head coach for the Trail Blazers for the remainder of the 2025–26 NBA season. This season commenced with a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, where the final score was 118–114.
Former Player with Coaching Experience
Splitter, who played in the NBA from 2010 to 2017, began his professional career with the San Antonio Spurs. There, he won an NBA Championship in 2014. His career also included stints with the Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers before his retirement in 2019.
After transitioning into coaching, Splitter worked as a pro scout for the Brooklyn Nets in 2018. He later served as a player development coach before joining the Boston Celtics as an assistant under Ime Udoka in 2023. Splitter had just joined the Trail Blazers as an assistant coach under Billups in June.
Impact of Billups’s Arrest
The charges against Billups have cast uncertainty over the Trail Blazers’ season. The team is now looking to Splitter for leadership during this challenging period.
As the situation develops, the basketball community remains focused on the implications for both Billups and the Trail Blazers, as well as the broader impact on the NBA.
