Reports: Clippers' Tyronn Lue Linked To Rigged Las Vegas Poker Scandal

Tyronn Lue, head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, has been linked to a significant NBA gambling scandal involving allegedly rigged poker games in Las Vegas, notably the same April 2019 game tied to Chauncey Billups' federal investigation. Investigative journalist Pablo Torre revealed that although Lue did not play at the same table as Billups, he was present at the event and has a close, decades-long friendship with Billups, whom he later hired as a Clippers assistant coach. Lue is known for his passion for poker, frequently spending the offseason in Las Vegas and playing at the Aria High Limit Bar, a hub for NBA-associated poker activities, often alongside former NBA player Damon Jones, who is also implicated in the scandal. While Lue has not been accused of any wrongdoing, his proximity to key figures in the investigation and his presence at the allegedly rigged games have raised concerns about how deeply the scandal may reach into the league's coaching ranks. Lue publicly defended Billups after his arrest, underscoring their close personal relationship, which complicates the narrative around the scandal. The investigation continues, with federal authorities examining the extent of involvement by various NBA personalities in this elaborate gambling operation.