Terry Rozier, now a guard for the Miami Heat, is under federal investigation for possibly manipulating his performance in a 2023 NBA game as part of an illegal sports gambling operation, NBA spokesperson Mike Bass confirmed to The Athletic on Thursday. The news was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

The game and performance under scrutiny took place March 23, 2023, when Rozier was still with the Charlotte Hornets. Rozier played just nine minutes and 34 seconds in a game against the New Orleans Pelicans and scored five points. Prior to the game against the Pelicans, Rozier averaged 35.3 minutes and 21.1 points per contest that season. At the time, the reason given for Rozier leaving the game early was due to a sore right foot. He did not play in any of the team’s eight remaining games that season.

The NBA conducted an investigation after the league was notified about unusual betting activity related to Rozier’s performance in that game, and Bass said the league “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,” Bass said.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York declined to comment.

Rozier is the second known NBA player to be investigated by the U.S. federal government for possibly manipulating his play as part of a sports gambling scheme. Former Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter pleaded guilty in July 2024 to one felony count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He is awaiting sentencing. Four other men have been arrested and charged as part of a federal investigation into a gambling ring that Porter is alleged to have been a part of.

Porter was banned by the NBA last April after he was caught manipulating his performance in multiple games during the 2023-24 season.

According to the WSJ report, federal authorities believe some of the same people who worked with Porter in 2024 also had information on Rozier’s performance that allowed them to bet on his performance in 2023.

Spokespeople for the Heat and Hornets referred to the NBA’s comment. Rozier’s agent has not returned a request for comment. A spokesperson for the Charlotte Hornets has not responded to emails asking for comment.

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