Federal prosecutors have launched an investigation into Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier for allegedly manipulating his performance in a 2023 NBA game as part of an illegal gambling conspiracy.
Federal investigators are focusing on a March 23, 2023, game that Rozier exited early with a reported foot injury, finishing with five points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal after playing under 10 minutes, according to The Wall Street Journal. Rozier did not play a game for the rest of the season.
Authorities became suspicious when a known gambling ring placed massive bets on his performance that night, prompting several sports books to stop taking bets on Rozier and a review of betting records.
“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 … and did not find a violation of NBA rules,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said.
The league is now cooperating with prosecutors as they investigate Rozier’s possible ties to a gambling scheme involving Jontay Porter, who was banned from the NBA last year after pleading guilty to criminal conspiracy similar to Rozier’s case.
According to CBS, “An investigation found that Porter relayed confidential information to bettors and agreed to feign an injury or illness to remove himself early in two games to ensure bettors would win wagers on his individual statistics. Porter pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy last year and is currently awaiting sentencing.”
Rozier, a 10-year veteran with 642 career appearances, joined the Miami Heat after stints with the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets. He has averaged nearly 12 points per game this season while coming off the bench for Miami.
The same suspicious shift that led to sports books dropping wagers on Rozier also raised red flags for federal authorities, who are now examining whether Rozier’s early departure was part of a deliberate plan. Although the NBA’s own review initially concluded that Rozier had not violated league rules, officials have acknowledged that the federal probe may uncover new information tied to alleged collaborators outside the league.
While Porter’s role in an illegal betting operation led him to plead guilty to wire fraud conspiracy last July, the circumstances surrounding Rozier’s alleged involvement will be scrutinized in the context of his more established NBA career. As the inquiry progresses, league officials and federal prosecutors will continue collaborating in an effort to determine whether any further legal or disciplinary action is warranted.
[#item_full_content]
[[{“value”:”
Federal prosecutors have launched an investigation into Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier for allegedly manipulating his performance in a 2023 NBA game as part of an illegal gambling conspiracy.
Federal investigators are focusing on a March 23, 2023, game that Rozier exited early with a reported foot injury, finishing with five points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal after playing under 10 minutes, according to The Wall Street Journal. Rozier did not play a game for the rest of the season.
Authorities became suspicious when a known gambling ring placed massive bets on his performance that night, prompting several sports books to stop taking bets on Rozier and a review of betting records.
“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 … and did not find a violation of NBA rules,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said.
The league is now cooperating with prosecutors as they investigate Rozier’s possible ties to a gambling scheme involving Jontay Porter, who was banned from the NBA last year after pleading guilty to criminal conspiracy similar to Rozier’s case.
According to CBS, “An investigation found that Porter relayed confidential information to bettors and agreed to feign an injury or illness to remove himself early in two games to ensure bettors would win wagers on his individual statistics. Porter pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy last year and is currently awaiting sentencing.”
Rozier, a 10-year veteran with 642 career appearances, joined the Miami Heat after stints with the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets. He has averaged nearly 12 points per game this season while coming off the bench for Miami.
The same suspicious shift that led to sports books dropping wagers on Rozier also raised red flags for federal authorities, who are now examining whether Rozier’s early departure was part of a deliberate plan. Although the NBA’s own review initially concluded that Rozier had not violated league rules, officials have acknowledged that the federal probe may uncover new information tied to alleged collaborators outside the league.
While Porter’s role in an illegal betting operation led him to plead guilty to wire fraud conspiracy last July, the circumstances surrounding Rozier’s alleged involvement will be scrutinized in the context of his more established NBA career. As the inquiry progresses, league officials and federal prosecutors will continue collaborating in an effort to determine whether any further legal or disciplinary action is warranted.
“}]]
