NEW YORK — Celtics guard Anfernee Simons was stunned Thursday to learn that his former head coach had been arrested as part of a wide-ranging federal gambling investigation.

Chauncey Billups, Simons’ coach in Portland for the last four seasons, was one of more than 30 individuals charged in connection with an alleged Mafia-backed scheme to rig poker games. Billups was charged with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.

“It hit me pretty tough, for sure,” Simons, who was traded to Boston this offseason, said after Friday’s morning shootaround at Madison Square Garden. “Just in shock. And obviously, I’ve got a great relationship with Chauncey. Even after the trade, he’s checking in on me and I’m checking in on him. So we had a great relationship, and I think it’s an unfortu

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