Chauncey Billups has pleaded not guilty to federal money laundering and wire fraud charges connected to an alleged rigged poker game scheme in a Brooklyn court.
The former NBA champion appeared at the United States Courthouse to formally deny the allegations leveled against him.
He faces counts of money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy, which carry a maximum combined prison sentence of 20 years.
The 47-year-old sat silently for over three hours as procedural issues were discussed regarding the extensive case.
Alleged role in criminal underworld
Prosecutors allege the Portland Trail Blazers head coach acted as a “face card” in the illicit operation.
It is claimed his fame and status were utilised to lure unsuspecting victims to rigged poker tables.
The trial involves 30 other defendants, including alleged violent criminals and members of organised crime groups.
During the proceedings, the Denver native observed the gallery of reporters but spoke only to enter his plea.
Trial timeline and evidence
A mandatory status hearing for all 31 defendants is scheduled to take place in Brooklyn on Wednesday.
Judge Ramon E. Reyes has indicated that a full trial could potentially commence in September.
The prosecution’s evidence reportedly involves a terabyte of electronic data, including bank records and surveillance photos.
Following his initial appearance in November, the five-time All-Star was released after posting $5m (£3.9m) bail.
Support from basketball community
Ron Naclerio, a legendary high school coach who trained the point guard for the 1997 draft, attended the hearing to offer support.
“He saw me, we hugged, and I said, ‘I know you’re going through hell, but just keep going,'”
Ron Naclerio
Naclerio noted that the defence attorney expressed gratitude for his presence in the courtroom.
Billups’ legal representative, Marc Mukasey, has so far offered no comment to the media regarding the ongoing proceedings.
Washington Wizards guard Trae Young is set to make his debut for the franchise on Thursday against the Utah Jazz following a lengthy injury absence.
The four-time All-Star will take to the court at home after recovering from fitness issues, according to reports in the US.
Young has not yet featured for the team since his trade from the Atlanta Hawks on 7 January.
Thursday’s fixture represents his first competitive action since 27 December.
Injury recovery complete
The playmaker has been sidelined for several weeks with MCL and quadriceps injuries in his right leg.
Before his enforced break, the 25-year-old was averaging 19.3 points and 8.9 assists across 10 games this season.
His return provides a significant boost for Washington, who are currently deep into a rebuilding phase.
New era in Washington
The Wizards have struggled for form throughout the campaign and currently sit with a 16-43 record.
Management hopes the in-season acquisition of the prolific scorer will help the franchise rebound in the long term.
Young is viewed as a central figure in the team’s future alongside fellow new arrival Anthony Davis.
Davis, who was acquired from the Dallas Mavericks on 4 February, is yet to make his own debut for the capital city club.
WNBPA vice-president Kelsey Plum has described the league’s latest collective bargaining offer as a “significant win” while warning a strike would be the “worst thing” for the sport.
The Las Vegas Aces guard insisted players are eager to return to the court but acknowledged that further negotiations are required to finalise the deal.
Speaking ahead of Unrivaled semifinal games in New York, the union executive emphasised the mutual damage a work stoppage would cause.
“I want to play, and players want to play,” Plum said.
“Obviously a strike would be the worst thing for both sides, because we are in a revenue sharing system, so no revenue, no revenue to share.”
Revenue sharing dispute remains
Discussions between the two parties have been ongoing for nearly 17 months after the players opted out of the previous agreement.
A significant gap remains regarding financial distribution, with the union seeking 30% of gross revenue before expenses.
In contrast, league officials have proposed a model offering 70% of net revenue, which the WNBPA argues amounts to less than 15% of the gross total.
Despite the disparity, the inclusion of a revenue-sharing model marks a historic shift for the competition.
“Getting the league to agree to a revenue sharing system for the first time… is something we fought really hard for,” Plum added.
Season deadlines approaching
The spectre of a potential strike has loomed since the player body authorised the executive committee to take action if necessary in December.
Time is becoming a factor, with the regular season tip-off scheduled for 8 May.
League administrators have set a target date of 10 March to complete a term sheet to ensure the schedule remains unaffected.
However, the former number one draft pick remains focused on the progress made rather than the remaining hurdles.
“I’ve always been someone that’s focused on the gain, not the gap,” said Plum.
“Obviously, we’re going to continue to negotiate. I can’t emphasize that enough. Like we’re not just settling.”
Thirty-one automatic bids to the women’s NCAA tournament are on the line as Champ Week begins following the conclusion of the Power 4 regular season.
Conference tournament titles will be decided over the next fortnight as teams look to secure their place in March Madness.
Leagues will also be distributing individual awards during this crucial period of the basketball calendar.
While some races remain tight, certain accolades appear all but settled.
In the Big East, UConn’s Sarah Strong looks to be a lock for Player of the Year.
Similarly, Richmond’s Maggie Doogan has established herself as the clear frontrunner in the Atlantic 10.
Projections for the America East
Vermont Catamounts are the predicted champions for the America East conference.
The Burlington-based side pulled away from rivals Binghamton over the final two weeks of the season.
This run included a decisive victory over the Bearcats on 12 February.
Should the two sides meet again in the tournament title game, Vermont will host the rematch.
Maine forward Adrianna Smith is the standout choice for the conference’s Player of the Year.
The senior will leave the programme as one of its most productive players in history.
Smith achieved a rare statistical feat this campaign by topping the America East in scoring, rebounds and assists.
Rice rely on defence in the American
The Rice Owls are favoured to take the American Athletic Conference title despite lacking a top-10 scorer.
Their success has been built on a stifling defence that leads the nation in opponent three-point percentage.
Hailey Adams has proved to be one of the conference’s premier shot blockers.
East Carolina’s Kennedy Fauntleroy is the tip for Player of the Year honours.
The senior guard struggled during stints at Oklahoma State and Arizona State but has regained her best form with the Pirates.
Fauntleroy has reached career highs in points and assists while leading the American in steals.
Jacksonville holds home advantage in ASUN
The Jacksonville Dolphins are predicted to triumph in the ASUN Conference.
Although they trailed Eastern Kentucky earlier in the year, the Dolphins enter the post-season as the hotter team.
Crucially, they will enjoy home comforts with the tournament played at their local VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.
Priscilla Williams is expected to claim the Player of the Year award for Jacksonville.
The well-travelled senior found a home in Florida after previous spells at Syracuse, South Florida and Oregon.
In her final collegiate season, Williams led the ASUN in rebounding and ranked second in scoring.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have revitalized their championship hopes following the arrival of James Harden, with the 11-time All-Star sparking an immediate upturn in form alongside Donovan Mitchell.
Immediate impact against New York
The new-look Cavaliers secured a statement 109-94 victory over the New York Knicks, a team that had previously beaten them twice this season.
It marked the first meeting between the Eastern Conference rivals since Cleveland revamped their roster at the trade deadline.
While Donovan Mitchell struggled from the field, shooting just 5-for-18, the victory highlighted the reduced burden on the team’s primary scorer.
Mitchell noted the 14 free throws attempted in the game, jokingly claiming credit for his new team-mate’s usual statistical output.
“I’ll take your free throws since you can’t get any. I never get 14 of them.”
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers guard
Harden, who uncharacteristically finished without a free-throw attempt, took the banter in stride as the chemistry between the backcourt duo grows.
Roster overhaul pays dividends
The Cavaliers have won six of their first seven games since the front office executed an aggressive deadline strategy.
Management sent 26-year-old former All-Star Darius Garland to the Los Angeles Clippers to acquire the 36-year-old former league MVP.
The trade was part of a wider shake-up that saw De’Andre Hunter and Lonzo Ball depart, with Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis arriving to bolster depth.
Mitchell acknowledged the swap was an “all-in” move designed to capitalise on the franchise’s current championship window.
Chasing a maiden championship
Both superstars possess decorated individual resumes but are united by their search for elusive postseason success as leading men.
Harden has not reached the NBA Finals since 2012, while Mitchell has yet to advance to a conference finals series.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson believes this shared hunger has accelerated their on-court understanding.
“They are two guys that are hungry to take that next step. They’ve kind of hit it off. Been seamless, really.”
Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach
Atkinson added that he has seen no misunderstandings between the two “hoop junkies” as they attempt to elevate Cleveland into genuine title contenders.
No. 1 UConn have completed their 11th undefeated regular season in programme history with a commanding 85-49 victory over St John’s at Madison Square Garden.
Chasing history
The Huskies are now just nine wins away from retaining their national title after securing a flawless 31-0 record.
Sunday’s result marked the side’s 47th consecutive victory, a run stretching back to February 2025.
“When you are fortunate enough to go through 31 games and win them all, there is something to be proud of,” said head coach Geno Auriemma.
“There is something good about it, and they should feel really good about it.”
Garden party
A crowd of 9,612 watched the victory at the famous New York venue, which was hosting its first standalone women’s college basketball game.
The defending champions shot 57% from the field and forced 22 turnovers against the Red Storm.
It continues a trend of dominance for Auriemma’s side, who boast an average scoring margin of +37.8 points this campaign.
Six players finished with at least nine points, highlighting the depth of a squad that has navigated the pressure of the programme’s storied past.
Life after Bueckers
Despite the perfect record, Auriemma rejected suggestions that this squad is superior to last year’s title-winning team.
The veteran coach highlighted the absence of former talisman Paige Bueckers, the WNBA’s number one draft pick.
“I do think when the NCAA tournament begins, it certainly is not going to be as easy as we experienced it last season,” Auriemma added.
“We have enough good players to have as good a chance as anybody else out there to win a national championship.”
Focus turns to Big East
National player of the year candidate Sarah Strong urged the team to remain focused as they prepare for the postseason.
“Coach came in and said he was proud of us,” said Strong. “We also have a lot to work on to get ready for the Big East tournament.”
The top seeds will face either Georgetown or Butler in the Big East quarterfinals next Saturday.
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry will miss at least the next five games with a persistent right knee issue, the team has announced.
The franchise confirmed that the two-time MVP will be re-evaluated in 10 days.
He is set to miss upcoming fixtures against the LA Clippers, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls.
Curry has already been absent for the previous 10 matches, with the team winning just four times during that stretch.
‘Unpredictable’ healing process
“This is a weird one,” Curry told ESPN regarding the recovery process.
“It’s kind of unpredictable how it’ll heal.”
The injury is officially listed as patellofemoral pain syndrome, often referred to as “runner’s knee”, which causes swelling around the kneecap.
Golden State had initially hoped for a return following the All-Star break, but the point guard suffered a setback during a workout.
Consequently, the medical staff shut down his on-court activities for a 10-day period.
While he has been observed performing weight-bearing squats, the 35-year-old has not yet been cleared to return to full practice.
Play-in concerns for Golden State
“It’s going to be a little longer,” Curry admitted.
“Right now, with this one, it’s about each day, can you stack good days? I’ve done that.”
The Warriors currently sit eighth in the Western Conference with a 31-29 record following Saturday’s defeat.
They appear destined for the Play-In tournament, though their talisman remains eager to return for a post-season push.
“Once I get back on the court, it’s a little bit of a pain tolerance thing,” he added.
“But it’s just something you don’t want lingering because it can get worse.”
The roster issues are compounded by the absence of co-star Jimmy Butler, who has been ruled out for the season after tearing his ACL in January.
Recent trade acquisition Kristaps Porzingis has also missed four straight games due to illness, playing only 17 minutes since his arrival.
Texas have replaced Vanderbilt as a projected number one seed alongside UConn, UCLA and South Carolina in the latest women’s NCAA tournament reveal.
The Longhorns moved up to the fourth overall spot in the rankings announced on Sunday, displacing the Commodores.
Defending national champions UConn remain the overall number one seed as the only unbeaten team in Division I women’s basketball.
Hawkeyes and Sooners on the rise
Iowa made the most significant leap among the top contenders, rising from 11th to the sixth overall seed.
The Hawkeyes enter the business end of the season in strong form having won five consecutive games.
Oklahoma also climbed four spots to 12th on the back of a matching five-game winning streak.
Conversely, Ohio State suffered the biggest slide in the projections, dropping from ninth to 16th.
Big Ten leads conference representation
Minnesota have entered the top 16, replacing Ole Miss as the only change to the projected field since the February reveal.
The Big Ten dominates the landscape with seven teams included in the rankings, while the SEC follows with five representatives.
The ACC has two teams featured, with the Big 12 and Big East contributing one apiece.
Unbeaten UConn eye history
Geno Auriemma’s Huskies sit at a flawless 30-0 record as they chase the program’s seventh perfect season.
The Big East powerhouse head the Fort Worth 1 regional projection alongside LSU, Louisville and Maryland.
UCLA, Vanderbilt, Duke and Ohio State populate the projected Sacramento 2 bracket.
South Carolina lead the Fort Worth 3 region, while Texas anchor the Sacramento 4 group joined by rising Iowa.
Road to Phoenix
The official top 16 seeds will be confirmed on 14 March, one day before the full tournament bracket is unveiled.
Tournament action begins with the First Four on 18 March.
The Final Four is scheduled to take place at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, with the national champion crowned on 5 April.