Utah Jazz big man Kevin Love made a perhaps insensitive Instagram post about the arrests of Miami Heat’s Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers’ head coach Chauncey Billups on Thursday. They were among more than 30 people arrested in a crackdown on alleged rigged poker games and illegal sports gambling.
Love posted a doctored photo of them in reference to a viral meme that originated at a Coldplay concert. The meme can be used when two people are caught doing something. However, it seems that Love realizes his error.
After Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard called the post “weak” in a comment — and the two appeared to have a conversation — Love reversed course and deleted his post.
Kevin Love apologizes for posting Chauncey Billups-Terry Rozier meme after talking to Damian Lillard: photo.twitter.com/ayNO6ob6iB
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) October 24, 2025
Love has ties to Rozier, but he never played alongside Billups in the NBA, despite what his Instagram caption might suggest. It should be noted that Damon Jones, a former NBA player and coach, was also arrested on Thursday and was part of the staff of the Cleveland Cavaliers during Love’s time with them.
For what it’s worth, Love still has several posts on his Instagram making light of the situation involving Rozier, Billups and Jones.
It’s possible Lillard was especially upset with Love’s Instagram post because Billups is his head coach. Lillard signed with the Trail Blazers this summer after being waived by the Milwaukee Bucks in what was a shocking move.
Rozier and Billups have been placed on leave by the NBA in light of their arrests, but the latter’s absence could be more consequential than the former’s.
After all, Rozier didn’t even play in Miami’s season opener against the Orlando Magic due to a coaching decision. Meanwhile, Billups is coming off his most successful season as the head coach of the Trail Blazers, where he coached them to 36 wins in 2024-25.
With Billups in a lot of legal trouble, former NBA champion Tiago Splitter will serve as interim coach in his place. Splitter played seven seasons in the NBA and won a title with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014.