NBA Veteran Terry Rozier Under Investigation In Illegal Gambling Probe

Federal prosecutors are investigating whether NBA player Terry Rozier manipulated his game performance as part of an illegal sports betting scheme, ESPN reports.

The game took place two years ago and a part of the same probe resulted in a lifetime ban of former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter. For his role in the scheme, Porter Porter was criminally prosecuted and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He is awaiting sentencing.

. Taking place on March 23, 2023, the Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans. According to the box score, Rozier played the first 9 minutes of the game.  Citing a foot issue, he never played another minute for the rest of the season. Many thought it was strange that Charlotte would sit Rozier with eight games remaining in the season.

Rozier finished with 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists. Usually, Rozier’s “prop bets” were around 21.5 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds. Betting activity involving Rozier caused U.S. Integrity, the monitoring agency for betting markets, to take notice.

According to the WSJ, U.S. Integrity sent only three alerts involving NBA games in two seasons — two involved games that Porter was playing and Rozier’s game.

Currently playing for the Miami Heat,  Rozier has not been charged with a crime nor has he been accused of wrongdoing.

Jim Trusty, Rozier’s attorney, issued a statement noting that his client is innocent of any potential charges.

“We are aware of the NBA’s 2023 investigation which determined there was absolutely no wrongdoing by Mr. Rozier and we are confident that the ongoing government investigation will arrive at the exact same conclusion,” Rozier’s attorney Jim Trusty said.

In an official statement, the NBA said it investigated the time but did not find that any league rules were broken.

“In March 2023, the NBA was alerted to unusual betting activity related to Terry Rozier’s performance in a game between Charlotte and New Orleans,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement. “The league conducted an investigation and did not find a violation of NBA rules. We are now aware of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York related to this matter and have been cooperating with that investigation.”