The NBA has confirmed that Miami Heat player Terry Rozier is now part of an ongoing federal investigation into unusual betting activity linked to a March 2023 game between the Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans. Rozier, then a member of the Hornets, was involved in the game where bettors raised concerns over his early exit after just nine minutes of play. The investigation is being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, with the NBA cooperating fully with authorities.
Unusual betting activity surrounds the March 2023 game:
This investigation is not the first to draw attention to gambling-related concerns within the NBA. It follows a similar probe into Toronto Raptors’ player Jontay Porter, who was banned for life after it was revealed he shared confidential information with gamblers and wagered on games, even betting against his own team. While Rozier has not been charged with any wrongdoing, the investigation has garnered considerable attention due to the nature of the betting patterns observed during the game.
On March 23, 2023, Rozier and the Hornets faced the New Orleans Pelicans in a matchup that became the subject of scrutiny after Rozier exited the game early, citing a foot injury. He did not return for the remainder of the season, as Charlotte had already been eliminated from playoff contention. At the time of his exit, Rozier had recorded modest stats: five points, four rebounds, and two assists in just the first quarter. While this performance was lower than his usual full-game output, it didn’t raise immediate alarms, as the Hornets had no reason to push him to play further.
However, the situation quickly gained attention on gambling platforms. Bettors expressed frustration on social media as they discovered that Rozier would not return to the game, believing that something shady had transpired, especially regarding prop bets on his individual performance. In particular, prop bets involving his total points, rebounds, and assists were widely circulated. At least one bettor, for example, lost out on a three-leg parlay where they had bet on Rozier exceeding a total of 32.5 combined points, assists, and rebounds, only to see him fall short due to his limited time on the court.
Moreover, some sportsbooks had listed prop bets for Rozier before pulling them down hours prior to the game. His stats were typically set around 21.5 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds, but the sudden removal of these options raised questions among bettors. Rozier had not been included on the injury report leading up to the game, leaving many to wonder why the odds changed unexpectedly.
Legal and League investigations:
The NBA launched its own internal investigation into the betting patterns surrounding the game and found no violation of league rules. According to NBA spokesman Mike Bass, the league looked into the matter promptly and concluded that Rozier’s actions did not breach any regulations. “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,” Bass explained in a statement reported by the Wall Street Journal. “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.”
Rozier’s legal representatives have asserted his innocence, confident that the investigation will clear their client of any wrongdoing. “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,” said Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty.
This case is part of a broader and growing concern about the impact of legalized sports betting in the U.S. Following the Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling that overturned the federal ban on sports betting, the industry has seen rapid expansion, with both online and in-person wagers skyrocketing. This surge has led to increased scrutiny of gambling patterns, particularly when it involves athletes potentially manipulating game outcomes for financial gain.
Porter’s lifetime ban in 2024 for betting on games, including wagering on his own team to lose, highlighted the NBA’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the sport. His case, where he disclosed sensitive information to bettors and even participated in bets against his own performance, led to both criminal charges and a significant punishment from the NBA.
Rozier’s situation remains under investigation, but thus far, no charges have been filed against him. As the U.S. Attorney’s Office continues its review, it remains to be seen whether this case will unfold in a manner similar to Porter’s.