NBA Denies 2023 Terry Rozier Suspension Amid FBI Gambling Investigation

Terry Rozier, currently a Miami Heat guard, was arrested in 2025 as part of a federal investigation into illegal sports betting linked to a March 23, 2023 game during his time with the Charlotte Hornets, where he exited early after playing only about 10 minutes. Federal prosecutors allege Rozier faked a foot injury as part of a scheme to enable illegal betting on his performance, with sportsbooks flagging unusual betting activity that led to an NBA investigation. The NBA, however, has consistently denied that it shadow suspended Rozier or that his absence from the final eight games of the 2022-23 season was due to anything other than a legitimate foot injury confirmed by MRI, stating no violation of league rules was found after their inquiry. ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst reported that sportsbooks alerted the NBA to suspicious betting and suggested Rozier was benched, but the league disputes claims of a quiet suspension and insists Rozier's injury was real. Critics have questioned the thoroughness of the NBA's investigation, especially since Rozier was allowed to continue playing after joining Miami in 2024, unlike Jontay Porter, who was banned for a similar gambling scandal. The NBA has cooperated with federal authorities but lacks subpoena power, which may explain the differing outcomes between the league's internal investigation and the federal indictment.