Suns’ Inquiry to Search for Any Gambling Link

A reported investigation into allegations of drug use among the Phoenix Suns also includes attempts to determine whether there are links between the National Basketball Assn. team and gambling interests, newspapers said Thursday.

The Arizona Republic reported that police investigators turned up possible drug and gambling links to the team while probing bookmaking operations in the Phoenix area.

The Phoenix Gazette said that police confiscated several score sheets from the Suns’ offices last month. The investigation apparently centers on a gambling ring said to be centered in Oakland, Calif., the newspaper said.

Sgt. Brad Thiss and officials of the Maricopa County attorney’s office declined comment, as did Sun officials.

The Republic quoted an unidentified source in the Sun organization as saying he was interviewed by police in a drug-related investigation and that several former and current players also were interviewed.

The Republic also said that the NBA asked for a videotape of a Feb. 21 game at Phoenix between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Suns. Phoenix lost after building an early lead, but the paper said it was unclear whether the the tape was requested to evaluate the team’s performance or to scan the crowd for gamblers.

The Gazette said score sheets seized by police included one from the Feb. 21 game as well as other games.

A source described by the Gazette as “familiar with details of the investigation” told the newspaper that the probe likely will be lengthy. “You’re going to see one of the biggest shakeups in the NBA on this one,” the unidentified source was quoted as saying.