Chauncey Billups' Friend Ty Lue's Poker Links to Damon Jones Revealed in Yet Another Controversy for Clippers

The controversies surrounding the LA Clippers continue to grow as the team’s head coach, Ty Lue, has been tied to the illegal gambling scandal through his friendship with Chauncey Billups and former Cleveland Cavaliers player Damon Jones. The Portland Trail Blazers coach was arrested on Oct. 23.

Multiple reports allege that Billups served as a celebrity figure to help draw players to rigged poker games. Reports also indicate that several organized crime families were part of the scheme allegedly employing the NBA coach.

Damon Jones was among those arrested as part of the FBI's crackdown and is alleged to have leaked sensitive information, which was later used for betting on NBA games. Speaking on Wednesday’s episode of his podcast, Pablo Torre tied the Clippers’ coach to the rigged poker games mentioned in Billups’ indictment:

"According to multiple sources with direct knowledge of that April 2019 game in Vegas that we’ve been discussing—the same one where Billups was allegedly profiting off of an extremely suspicious hand and a rigged shuffling machine—another 'face card' in attendance was current Los Angeles Clippers head coach Ty Lue.”

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Torre continued, claiming that Lue’s love for Las Vegas and poker is a well-known fact around the league before tying him to Damon Jones:

“Here’s the open secret around the NBA: Ty Lue lives in Vegas during the offseason. He also loves poker. He’s often seen at what many insiders consider the nexus of the NBA poker world—the Aria High Limit Bar—often alongside another retired NBA player: Damon Jones."

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“It's just hard”: Ty Lue speaks up after Chauncey Billups’ arrest

After the LA Clippers defeated the Trail Blazers 114-107 on Sunday, Ty Lue spoke to the media, sharing his thoughts on Chauncey Billups’ arrest for the first time.

Lue discussed the impact of the news on himself and Billups' family, explaining his decades-long bond with the Blazers coach.

"It's hard to process," Lue said. "You hate to see him go through something like this, along with his three girls, who are my goddaughters, and his wife, Piper. “I believe in Chauncey's character. I know who he is as a person. I've been with him since I was 17 years old. So, it's just hard to see something like this happen. He has my love and support always."

While Lue extended his sympathies to Billups, he could end up in a similar situation if Pablo Torre's claims from Wednesday turn out to be true. And if that happens, it will be a poor look for the LA Clippers, who are already the subject of an NBA investigation.

In light of Torre's claims, Lue's decision to add Jones to the Cleveland Cavaliers' staff for the 2017 Summer League is under heavy scrutiny.

Edited by Sameer Khan