Miami Heat star Terry Rozier is at the center of a federal investigation into an alleged sports gambling ring, according to The Wall Street Journal. Authorities are scrutinizing a March 23, 2023, matchup between the Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans, where suspicious betting activity targeted prop bets on Rozier’s performance.
Sources suggest the probe connects to the Jontay Porter betting scandal, where insiders allegedly placed bets based on confidential information. Investigators believe some individuals involved in Porter’s case may have also profited from betting against Rozier in that game.
During the Hornets-Pelicans game nearly two years ago, Rozier played just 9 minutes and 34 seconds before exiting. He recorded five points, four rebounds, and two assists—a performance that lined up eerily well with prop bets against him. Despite not appearing on the injury report before tip-off, he left the game with reported right foot discomfort and never played again that season.
The NBA had already investigated the situation in 2023 after noticing the unusual betting trends. League spokesman Mike Bass confirmed that the NBA found no rule violations at the time but is now cooperating with a new federal investigation led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
“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,” said Bass. “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 and have been cooperating.”
U.S. Integrity, a sports monitoring firm, flagged Rozier’s game for unusual betting patterns before tip-off. Some sportsbooks even removed Rozier’s prop bets after receiving alerts. One bettor reportedly boasted about having inside information, leading him to wager that Rozier would record fewer than 6.5 assists—a bet that ultimately hit.
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Despite the mounting scrutiny, Rozier has not been charged or directly accused of wrongdoing. The scandal, however, extends beyond him, as federal investigators are now digging into potential point-shaving in college basketball as part of the larger probe into the gambling ring.
The case also draws comparisons to Jontay Porter, who was banned from the NBA for life and later pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy. Unlike Porter, who was a two-way player without job security, Rozier is an established veteran, currently in the middle of a $96 million contract.
Four men, including Porter, have already pleaded guilty in connection with the case, and two more face charges. With federal prosecutors intensifying their crackdown on sports betting corruption, this scandal could have major implications for the NBA and beyond.
Rozier, who was traded to the Heat last January and has played 41 games for Miami this season, has declined to comment on the investigation.
