The NBA has announced significant changes to its injury reporting policies in response to concerns over illegal sports betting. Following the indictment of current and former players in October 2023 for allegedly sharing inside information with bettors, the league aims to enhance transparency and prevent misuse of injury data.
In a memo sent to teams on October 27, 2023, the NBA outlined a series of reforms designed to tighten control over injury disclosures. Teams will now be required to submit multiple injury reports on game days, specifically between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., with exceptions for the second night of back-to-back games. Additionally, the league will update public injury reports on its official website every 15 minutes, a significant increase from the previous hourly updates.
The memo highlighted ongoing reviews of other policies, particularly those related to “tanking” behavior and the incentives that contribute to it. The league is considering potential changes to draft pick protections and adjustments to its lottery rules.
In conjunction with these policy changes, the NBA expressed its intention to advocate for stricter regulations surrounding prop betting. This includes discussions with industry stakeholders such as sports betting companies. Among the modifications under consideration are limits on under bets, maximum wager amounts on player prop bets, and the elimination of “problematic bet types” that can be resolved by a single play. The NBA emphasized that it believes sports leagues should maintain control over the types of bets allowed on their games.
The impetus for these changes stems from serious allegations against players, including Terry Rozier of the Miami Heat and former player Damon Jones. Both individuals, along with four others, were charged by federal prosecutors for allegedly using insider information to assist bettors. Rozier is accused of informing a friend about his early exit from a game in March 2023 while he was with the Charlotte Hornets. This friend, identified as Deniro Laster, allegedly sold the information to gamblers.
Jones is similarly accused of leveraging his position around the Los Angeles Lakers to provide injury updates to bettors. The indictment also referenced an unnamed co-conspirator who closely resembles suspended Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, indicating he shared information about the team’s intention to bench starters as part of a tanking strategy. Billups faces separate federal gambling charges.
Both Rozier and Jones have pleaded not guilty in federal court, with their cases being pursued by the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
As the NBA implements these new measures, the league aims to protect its integrity and ensure fair play, addressing the growing intersection of sports and gambling in a rapidly evolving market. The changes are part of a broader response to the challenges posed by illegal betting practices and the need for enhanced oversight in the sports industry.
