Federal prosecutors are looking into claims that veteran NBA guard Terry Rozier manipulated his performances as part of an illegal gambling scheme.

As reported by The Wall Street Journal, the inquiry just one part of a larger investigation into alleged match fixing in professional sports. The same probe has already resulted in a guilty plea and lifetime NBA ban for former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter.

The 30-year-old Rozier has not been charged and it remains unclear if investigators have concluded that he helped gamblers in any way.  

The alleged incident is said to have taken place on March 23, 2023, when Rozier was a member of the Charlotte Hornets. The former Louisville star currently plays for the Miami Heat, who declined comment when contacted by DailyMail.com and instead referred to a statement from the NBA.  

‘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 in the league statement. ‘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.’ 

Rozier’s agent and spokespeople for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 

As for the allegations against Rozier on March 23, 2023, not much is known publicly. 

A series of strange bets were placed on various outcomes related to Rozier for the Hornets matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans that night. Those wagers raised the suspicions U.S. Integrity, which works with various sports and gambling interests to protect against illegal activity.

Earlier this month, federal investigators said  Porter was texting with his alleged co-conspirators during games to hash out details of the gambling scheme that resulted in his lifetime suspension from the league.

At one point, some sportsbooks stopped taking bets on Rozier that night, people familiar with the investigation told The Journal. 

Rozier would ultimately leave the game in less than 10 minutes of action due to what was described at the time as a ‘sore right foot.’ He had just five points, four rebounds, two assists, and a foul – numbers that appeared suspicious in the eyes of some gamblers after several sportsbooks stopped taking prop bets on Rozier that night.

‘Is there any reason why there are zero Terry Rozier props on any books or DFS sites?’ a gambler that goes by Noah wrote on X that night. ‘Is he out tonight? Did I miss something? Very odd.’

Soon thereafter, Noah added: ‘And now Rozier plays just 9 minutes and then is out the rest of the game? Conspiracy theorists are gonna run with this one.’

Gamblers became suspicious after Rozier props were pulled before he played just nine minutes

Porter was accused of a similar conspiracy before pleading guilty in July to plotting with gamblers to impact betting outcomes in their favor: ‘I know what I did was wrong, unlawful, and I am deeply sorry.’

Echoing findings in an NBA investigation and allegations in an ongoing prosecution of other individuals, Porter acknowledged he deliberately withdrew early from games so that co-conspirators could win bets on his performance. He did it, he said, ‘to get out from under large gambling debts.’

Porter was scheduled to be sentenced in December, but that has now been pushed back to 2025. He had requested permission to travel abroad and play in Greece, but was denied by a federal judge in July.  

Following the arrest of alleged co-conspirator Shane Hennen at the Las Vegas airport earlier this month, federal investigators claim to have in-game text messages between Porter and his alleged accomplices, according to The Athletic.

In a purported exchange from January 22, 2024, Porter tells his alleged co-conspirators: ‘I went back to the locker room to get eye checked on… [I don’t know] if imma play much more… I’m not starting second half.’ 

Porter then added: ‘But if it’s garbage time I will shoot a million shots.’

On January 26, he told a pair of accomplices he would remove himself from the game with an injury – information investigators say was shared with Hennen.

Federal investigators say NBA exile Jontay Porter was texting with his alleged co-conspirators during games to hash out details of the gambling scheme that resulted in his lifetime ban 

Porter allegedly texted Hennen directly on another occasion to go over a plan.

‘Hit unders for the big numbers,’ read the message, published by The Athletic. ‘I told [Co-Conspirator 2] no blocks no steals. I’m going to play first 2-3 minute stint off the bench then when I get subbed out tell them my eye killing me again.’

Hennen allegedly bet $3,700 through a proxy that Porter would fail to get at least five rebounds for the game.

Later, on March 20, Hennen had information that Porter would pull himself from the game again.

Hennen reportedly bet $2,400 on that occasion that Porter would fail to reach an over/under on points.

Porter would play just three minutes in that game, failing to score at all.

Investigators have also been looking into any possible connections between that gambling scheme and a potential point-shaving scandal at Temple University, which was flagged by U.S. integrity last season.

The organization found unusual bets on the Owls’ March 7 game and the NCAA has since announced it is looking into the matter.