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The NBA and Charlotte Hornets told federal prosecutors they prefer veteran guard Terry Rozier continue to be prohibited from contacting current and former members of the Hornets while he remains out on bond and awaiting trial on four charges stemming from a federal investigation into alleged NBA gambling and insider information trading. Last week, a federal judge asked the league to weigh in as she contemplated whether to remove those bond restrictions at the request of Rozier and his lawyer, who claimed that they prevented Rozier from potentially playing in the NBA again. An attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York told Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall in a legal filing Monday that the NBA supported their desire to keep the current terms in place.
Terry Rozier has pleaded not guilty to all four charges. The judge set a Feb. 8, 2027, date for trial. The NBA, however, put Rozier on leave soon after he was arrested last October. It tried to withhold his $26.6 million salary as well, but Rozier and the NBPA appealed the decision to an arbitrator, who ruled in his favor. But the league ultimately prevailed this spring when it again decreased Rozier’s salary, saying the conditions of his bond set in mid-December prevented him from fulfilling his contract. The players union and Rozier again filed a grievance; the arbitrator ruled for the NBA. Trusty said the ban on contact with the Hornets was “devastating” in the arbitrator hearing, though Hall said that argument didn’t carry far in her courtroom. Federal prosecutors had also prevented Rozier from speaking to members of the Heat organization while he was still employed by them, but lifted that last month after Rozier was waived by the team. They had also investigated whether Rozier had ever discussed his case with them.
A federal judge has asked the NBA to weigh in on whether Terry Rozier should have a chance to play in the league next season. Rozier is not allowed to be in contact with the Charlotte Hornets while he awaits a trial for charges that he took a bribe to manipulate his performance during a 2023 game while he was with the team — one of four federal counts stemming from an investigation into alleged illegal sports gambling. A lawyer for Rozier has asked the Department of Justice and the judge to lift that provision of his release on bond, saying it effectively prevents the veteran guard from playing in the league. The judge, LaShann DeArcy Hall, said she wants to hear from the NBA before she decides what to do. The Hornets have taken no position on the request, a lawyer for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District said.
The judge, LaShann DeArcy Hall, said she wants to hear from the NBA before she decides what to do. The Hornets have taken no position on the request, a lawyer for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District said. The federal prosecutor, Kaitlin T. Farrell, said she believes the league prefers that the no-contact requirement not be lifted and that he not be allowed to play. Hall gave the league until Monday to file a letter to the Eastern District with its preference.
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Mike Vorkunov: Rozier's lawyer has asked the judge to lift a bond restriction that effectively keeps him from playing in the NBA. Judge has asked the NBA to weigh in by Monday. The trial date for the case has been set for Feb. 8, 2027. Rozier has asked the judge to dismiss the charges.
Mike Vorkunov: Jim Trusty, lawyer for Terry Rozier: "The NBA has literally flagrantly fouled the presumption of innocence...They're still trying to find ways to pretend they're victims & that Terry should be prohibited from playing basketball... They are not on the side of angels in this case."
Terry Rozier was in violation of his NBA contract and will forfeit most of his $26.6 million salary for the 2025-26 season due to his alleged role in a sports gambling scheme while he was with the Charlotte Hornets, an arbitrator ruled last month. The ruling was included in a court filing released Wednesday.
The same arbitrator initially said the NBA could not withhold Rozier’s salary this season as he faces federal charges from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. The NBA put him on unpaid administrative leave in October, days after Rozier, then with the Miami Heat, was arrested. He and the National Basketball Players Association filed a grievance, and an arbitrator ruled at the time that Rozier should be paid despite being on leave.
Rozier and the NBA returned to the arbitrator this spring after the league said he should not be paid, as the conditions of his bond — which don’t allow him to travel across the country or be in contact with the Heat and Hornets — prevented him from fulfilling his contract. The union and Rozier again appealed, but this time the arbitrator ruled in the league’s favor. Rozier and the NBA returned to the arbitrator this spring after the league said he should not be paid, as the conditions of his bond — which don’t allow him to travel across the country or be in contact with the Heat and Hornets — prevented him from fulfilling his contract. The union and Rozier again appealed, but this time the arbitrator ruled in the league’s favor.
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On Wednesday, a lawyer for Rozier asked the judge overseeing his case to change the conditions of his release because Rozier still hopes to play in the NBA and believes those terms are impacting his ability to do so. The Eastern District attorney’s office removed the Heat from his no-contact list late last month, the filing released Wednesday said, after Miami released him in April, but the Hornets remain. The NBA had asked federal prosecutors to prevent Rozier from communicating with anyone in the league, but that request was denied. Rozier’s attorneys are now asking the judge to remove the Hornets and their current and former employees as well, and to lower Rozier’s limit to not discussing the case with them. Prosecutors have opposed this request.
Mike Vorkunov: More on this: — While DOJ named sportsbooks as victims in original indictment, today they said Rozier and others conspired to defraud NBA and the Hornets “through bribery and kickbacks.” — Charges came hours after another defendant told judge he paid NBA player to limit his play
A defendant in the federal NBA gambling case told a judge today that he paid an NBA player to change his performance so he could bet on him. The player, a federal prosecutor later clarified, was former Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier. Through his attorney, Rozier disputed the claim. The defendant, Marves Fairley, made the admission Thursday as he pleaded guilty to seven felony counts in two separate cases brought by the Department of Justice over the last year. Federal prosecutors say Fairley was one of the men who helped orchestrate the NBA insider betting case, which led to indictments for Rozier and Damon Jones, and the college basketball point-shaving scheme.
Mike Vorkunov: A lawyer for Rozier denies that Rozier was paid to change his performance. "There are some desperate men in this case with terrible criminal records and tons of exposure, and they know what to say to please these prosecutors," Jim Trusty, Rozier's lawyer, said.