Current NBA backup point guard of the Miami Heat, Terry Rozier, has recently become the subject of a federal investigation concerning unusual betting patterns. According to the AP News, Rozier is linked to the same probe that led to former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter from being banned for life from the NBA, facing criminal prosecution and eventually pleading guilty to committing wire fraud. The NBA led its own private investigation and found no violation of NBA rules. This development has raised significant concerns about the integrity of professional basketball and the potential involvement of players in betting activities.
Terry Rozier entered the league as the 16th overall pick by the Boston Celtics in the 2015 NBA Draft. Over the years, he has established himself as a dynamic scorer and playmaker. Rozier is in his tenth year in the NBA and has played for three different teams including the aforementioned Celtics, Charlotte Hornets and currently, the Miami Heat.
On March 23, 2023, during a game between the Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans, Terry Rozier, exited early due to discomfort in his right foot after playing only nine minutes. This was notably below his season average of 35.3 minutes and 21.1 points per game as a starter. His brief appearance resulted in five points, four rebounds, and two assists, significantly underperforming his season averages and stat lines. This incident coincided with unusual betting activity that led to an investigation by the NBA.
Concurrently, U.S. Integrity, a firm specializing in monitoring betting activities, identified multiple wagers placed on Rozier achieving below his usual statistics in that game. These bets raised red flags due to their specificity and the alignment with Rozier’s unexpected early exit. The firm promptly alerted the NBA and associated sportsbooks about these suspicious betting patterns.
Initially, the NBA conducted an internal investigation and concluded that there was no violation of league rules by Rozier. However, the matter has since escalated, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York launching a federal investigation into the incident. This probe is part of a broader examination into a gambling ring allegedly connected to former NBA player Jontay Porter, who was permanently banned from the league in April 2024, which could lead to a wide scale problem for the league.
