The basketball world has been rocked this week by one of the biggest gambling scandals in league history. Federal prosecutors have unsealed indictments that tie current and former NBA figures to illegal betting, rigged poker games, and organized crime networks.
The FBI-led investigation, dubbed Operation ‘Nothing But Bet’ and ‘Operation Royal Flush’, has revealed a network that allegedly traded insider information and manipulated high-stakes private games to defraud wealthy participants.
Now, a new name has surfaced, and it could change the direction of the story. Multiple outlets are reporting that former NBA champion Kevin Garnett has been linked to one of the poker events now under federal scrutiny.
According to reports attributed to journalist Pablo Torre, Garnett attended a private high-stakes poker game in 2019 that was allegedly organized by individuals now facing charges in Operation Royal Flush.
“UPDATE: A number of former pro athletes played at private poker games organized by those indicted by the DOJ in “Operation Royal Flush.” One of them — according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of a game that took place in 2019 — was Kevin Garnett,” Torre REPORTED.
🚨 UPDATE: A number of former pro athletes played at private poker games organized by those indicted by the DOJ in “Operation Royal Flush.”
One of them — according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of a game that took place in 2019 — was Kevin Garnett. @pablofindsout https://t.co/9UEijIez8R
— Pablo Torre 👀 (@PabloTorre) October 24, 2025
Current information does not indicate that Garnett is accused of any wrongdoing, but his association with those involved has fueled intense speculation online. The reports stress that he was a guest at the table, not part of the operation or its inner circle.
Still, the connection between a Hall of Fame player and a federal criminal probe has deepened the intrigue around a scandal that continues to widen by the hour.
Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier Have Been Arrested
Federal officials say the indictments are only the beginning of what could be a months-long legal process, and more names could yet emerge.
The details have sent shockwaves through the league, already reeling from previous betting controversies. Two major names have already been taken into custody. Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, a former Finals MVP, was arrested for allegedly participating in poker games tied to organized crime.
Prosecutors claim those tables used hidden cameras and advanced cheating devices to manipulate outcomes while celebrities and athletes were used to attract players. Billups has been placed on administrative leave as both the FBI and the NBA conduct parallel investigations.
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was also arrested and charged under the sports-betting portion of the probe. Authorities allege he passed on non-public information about his own availability and game plans to bettors who placed large wagers before that information reached the public.
The combination of insider betting and rigged poker games has created one of the most complex criminal cases to ever touch professional basketball.
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