Basketball Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett was reportedly among "a number of former pro athletes" who "played at private poker games organized" by several of the people indicted in a sweeping investigation into illegal sports betting and alleged Mafia-backed poker rigging schemes, podcaster Pablo Torre reported on Friday (October 24).
"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 wrote on his X account.
"Operation Royal Flush," which was one of two cases in the FBI probe, resulted in the arrests of Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and former NBA player Damon Jones among 31 total defendants accused of allegedly used high-tech cheating gadgets to steal millions from games backed by four of the "Five Families" long suspected to have ruled organized crime within the New York area. The second probe, "Operation Nothing But Bet," resulted in Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and five others being indicted in an insider sports betting scheme that "exploited confidential information."
The NBA placed Billups and Rozier on administrative leave from their respective teams after both were federally charged on Thursday (October 23).
"We are in the process of reviewing the federal indictments announced today," the NBA said in a statement re-shared by ESPN's Shams Charania. "Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups are being placed on immediate leave from their teams, and we will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities. We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority."
The federal takedown resulted in more than 30 arrests spanning 11 states, as well as and included charges of wire fraud, money laundering, extortion, robbery and illegal gambling, according to FBI Director Kash Patel.
“The fraud is mind-blogging,” Patel told reporters, referring to the alleged incidents as a “criminal enterprise that envelops both the NBA and La Cosa Nostra.”
Garnett, who was selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021, is widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards in league history, having made 15 All-Star Game appearances and winning the 2008 NBA championship and 2008 Defensive Player of the Year with the Boston Celtics and the 2004 NBA Most Valuable Player award during his first stint with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 49-year-old was the NBA's rebounding champion four consecutive years between 2004 and 2007 and a four-time All-NBA First Teamer, three-time All-NBA Second Teamer and a two-time All-NBA Third Teamer, as well as a nine-time NBA All-Defensive Teamer and a three-time NBA All-Defensive Second Teamer.