Heat's Terry Rozier linked to federal gambling probe for time with Hornets

Ira Winderman, South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Jan 30, 2025

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MIAMI — With one player already under suspension, the Miami Heat now face the prospect of another facing potential sanctions.

According to a Thursday report from the Wall Street Journal, “Federal prosecutors have been investigating whether veteran NBA player Terry Rozier manipulated his performance as part of an illegal sports betting scheme.”

The investigation involves a timeframe before Rozier was acquired by the Heat in January 2024 in exchange for Kyle Lowry and a future first-round draft choice.

Rozier has not been charged with a crime or accused of wrongdoing.

The investigation is part of a probe that last year led to a criminal charge and lifetime NBA ban of Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter. Porter has since been convicted of wire fraud, facing potential sentencing of 41 to 51 months.

The Heat referred questions for comment to the NBA, with NBA spokesman Mike Bass issuing a statement saying, “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. 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.”

Unlike the Heat’s current indefinite suspension of forward Jimmy Butler for “failure to render services” and other perceived team violations, an NBA suspension of Rozier would afford the Heat salary-cap and luxury tax relief of 50% of the salary lost during a suspension.

An NBA banishment of Rozier would remove Rozier’s salary from the Heat’s payroll.

Rozier is earning $24.9 million this season, with a $26.6 million salary for next season, the final year on his contract.

Rozier has earned in excess of $120 million in career NBA salary over his combined time with the Boston Celtics, Hornets and Heat.

According to the Wall Street Journal report, “The game in question took place on March 23, 2023, when Rozier was a member of the Charlotte Hornets. The betting on Rozier was strange enough that day to raise alarms at U.S. Integrity, a firm that works with sports entities, gambling operators and government agencies to monitor betting markets for suspicious activity.

“U.S. Integrity notified sportsbooks — and the NBA — that unusual wagers were coming in on Rozier failing to meet certain statistical benchmarks, such as the total number of points or rebounds he would record in the game. Some of the sportsbooks stopped accepting bets on Rozier’s stats that day, people familiar with the matter said.”

The report continued, “In this game, however, Rozier played just over nine minutes before being substituted out during a timeout. He left with a foot injury and didn’t return. Rozier would miss the remaining eight games (of that season).”

Rozier is in the midst of one of his worst seasons in years, averaging 11.9 points, his lowest scoring average since 2018-19 with the Celtics, when he averaged 9.0 points per game. His .288 3-point percentage is his lowest since he shot .222 from beyond the arc as a Celtics rookie in 2015-16.

Rozier is coming off one of his best performances of the season, with 22 points in Wednesday night’s loss to the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Heat next convene on Friday, for practice at Kaseya Center, ahead of a four-game road trip that opens Saturday night against the San Antonio Spurs.