Terry Rozier Still Under Federal Gambling Investigation, Report Says

After initially being cleared of any wrongdoing (via reporting from Shams Charania) in a gambling scandal that took place in 2023, it appears that Terry Rozier is not out of the woods just yet. On Tuesday, Veteran Sports Journalist Chris Haynes reported on X/Twitter that Rozier is indeed still under federal investigation.

Rozier Being Investigated For Suspicious Betting In March Of 2023

On March 23, 2023, the Charlotte Hornets (Rozier’s then-employer) fell to the New Orleans Pelicans 115-96. Given that neither team made the playoffs that season, this game seems largely insignificant in the story of NBA history.

However, that game caught the attention of both the league front office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York because of the alarming number of under bets taken on Rozier’s individual statistical lines.

In 2022-23, Rozier averaged 21.1 PPG, 5.1 APG, and 4.1 RPG, but he was limited to just five points, four rebounds, and two assists after leaving the game with a sore foot injury ten minutes into his night.

This situation is eerily similar to the one that led to Jontay Porter being permanently banned from the league last season. Sportsbooks endured an unusual number of under bets in games that Porter ended up leaving with an injury.

An athlete gambling on their own games is not a matter that is taken lightly by the league or the federal government. Along with no longer being able to play in the NBA, Porter is facing fines, hundreds of thousands of dollars in restitution, and a three to four year federal prison sentence.

Malik Beasley is now under investigation for a similar matter that could threaten to end his career one year after his best season in the NBA (one where he finished second in Sixth Man of the Year voting).

When reports first came out about Rozier being under scrutiny, NBA spokesman Mike Bass stated that the league had already conducted an investigation on the matter and “did not find any violation of NBA rules.” The current investigation we are discussing is being done by the federal government.

Part of what makes fans so entrenched in sports is the unpredictability of it all. If they get any inkling of foul play from the individuals involved in those games, it could turn a lot of people away (that is why the NBA Draft Lottery is not rigged). So, the league is super cautious about maintaining the integrity of the sport. Hence, the harsh penalties that are imposed on these offenders.

What Does This Mean For The Miami Heat?

As sad as it is to say, the Miami Heat likely won’t miss Rozier too much if he is no longer allowed to play for them. Ever since joining the Heat during the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline, Rozier has failed to rekindle the offensive punch that made him such a tantalizing asset to go out and acquire.

In 93 games with the Heat, Rozier has averaged just 12.5 PPG and 3.3 APG on 51.1% true shooting. That is a far cry from the 20 PPG and 4.7 APG on 55.5% TS he posted in his half decade run WITH Charlotte.

Last week, the Heat were a part of a three-team trade that netted them Norman Powell. Powell – a more effective version of the combo guard archetype that Rozier is classified under – seems poised to usurp the 10-year veteran on the Heat’s depth chart.

Some folks suspected that the Heat would try to negotiate a buyout with Rozier, thus making him available to the other 29 teams in the association. But after this recent piece of news, it seems that we will need to wait a little longer before anything like that happens.

The NBA has yet to comment on this recent update regarding the Rozier investigation.