
Key points:
- The patterns were first noticed after a bettor posted on social media about receiving “inside info” that Rozier would be exiting a March 2023 regular season game early
- Rozier played the first nine minutes of the game, but then exited due to what he cited as a foot injury, and remained sidelined for the rest of the regular season
Federal prosecutors have begun an investigation into suspicious betting patterns surrounding NBA player Terry Rozier following a March 2023 regular season game in which Rozier exited after nine minutes due to what he cited as a foot issue.
At the time, Rozier was a member of the Charlotte Hornets franchise, having finished with respectable production during the game in question but well below his typical output. Bettors then took to social media, accusing sportsbooks of “shady” practices regarding Rozier’s prop bets.
One bettor posted that he had received “inside info” that Rozier would be exiting the game early, and included a screenshot of a winning bet that paid out $100 on a $122 wager. Sportsbooks had been offering Rozier prop bets on the day of the game, but made the decision to remove the offerings just hours before tip-off.
“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,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said.
“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.”
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Rozier, who is now a member of the Miami Heat franchise, reportedly declined to comment on the investigation based on advice from his counsel as of January 31. He would also go on to state that he doesn't foresee any issues with remaining focused on basketball despite the ongoing investigation.
The investigation is similar to the one conducted throughout 2024 that led to a lifetime ban placed on former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter. The NBA had determined Porter gave inside information to bettors regarding his health status prior to regular season games in order to ensure he finished below his prop bet totals.
The league stated that Porter would bet on regular season NBA games as well, including taking his own team to lose certain matchups.