Miami Heat player Terry Rozier pleaded not guilty on Monday, December 8, in New York in the illegal betting case that is shaking the world of North American basketball. Aged 31, Terry Rozier, who appeared free, was arrested and then charged in October for having participated in a rigged betting system based, in particular, on the sharing of confidential information from the locker room.
According to the indictment, Rozier participated in fixing at least one meeting. On March 23, 2023, he allegedly warned his childhood friend Deniro Laster, who was also prosecuted, that he planned to feign an injury against the New Orleans Pelicans.
The latter would have resold the information to several people, for total bets of 200 000 dollars (171,000 euros) bet on an underperformance of the player that evening. Terry Rozier, starting point guard, left the floor after nine minutes of play, generating tens of thousands of dollars in winnings.
Appearing Monday in a New York court, the Miami player, white shirt and gray suit, pleaded not guilty to criminal conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering.
The NBA suspended him
He was released on a $3 million personal bond, secured by his Florida home and another property, details of which have not been made public. His travels are limited to Florida, Ohio, New York City and Long Island, near the megalopolis. He must obtain authorization from the courts to travel elsewhere in the United States. Appearing alongside him, his childhood friend Deniro Laster also pleaded not guilty.
In October, the NBA, a North American basketball league, suspended Terry Rozier as well as Portland coach Chauncey Billups, who was also involved in this affair alongside around thirty people, including members of the Sicilian mafia in New York.
In January 2025, this same league revealed having investigated since 2023 “unusual bets” linked to Rozier, but had not found “no violation of the regulations”. After his indictment in October, the player received “total support” of his team through his captain, Bam Adebayo.
