Report: NBA’s Terry Rozier facing federal probe over suspicious betting patterns 

Miami Heat star Terry Rozier is allegedly facing a federal investigation from US authorities over claims he manipulated his playing time for betting purposes.  

A report from the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) said the incident in question took place while Rozier was playing for the Charlotte Hornets in March 2023.

During the game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Rozier exited with a foot injury after 10 minutes having scored five points, four rebounds, and two assists.  

Monitoring firm US Integrity flagged to the NBA and various sportsbooks that a large number of wagers were being placed on the under for Rozier’s player props.  

This led to several sportsbooks removing the offerings in response.  

The investigation into Rozier reportedly involves a ring of gamblers and poker players, although the report stressed that Rozier hasn’t yet been charged or accused of any wrongdoing.  

NBA spokesperson Mike Bass said: “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 US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York related to this matter and have been cooperating with that investigation.” 

Since being drafted to the NBA in 2015, Rozier has played for the Boston Celtics as well as the Hornets and the Heat. 

Rozier’s investigation is allegedly part of the same probe which involved former Toronto Raptors power forward Jontay Porter.  

The WSJ reported that some of the same people involved in Porter’s case also placed wagers on Rozier before the game in question against the Pelicans. 

The news outlet also claimed the investigators are looking into a connection between the Porter gambling scandal and a potential incident in college basketball. 

Porter received a lifetime ban from the NBA in April 2024 before pleading guilty to one charge of wire fraud conspiracy as part of an illegal gambling ring in July.  

He confessed to agreeing to withdraw from games early to allow bettors to gain an unfair advantage when wagering on his player props.  

Porter claimed that his actions were motivated by large gambling debts to known bettors he was trying to pay off.  

Long Phi Pham (known as Bruce), Timothy McCormack, Mahmud Mollah, and Shane Hennen were all charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud alongside Porter after they placed numerous large wagers on his player props. 

Pham pleaded guilty in October and will be sentenced in April 2025, while Porter is scheduled to be sentenced in May.