Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier will be paid his full salary for the 2025–26 season after winning a grievance against the National Basketball Association (NBA), even as he remains at the centre of a high-profile federal gambling investigation.
According to ESPN, an independent arbitrator ruled on 2 February (Monday) that the league cannot place a player on unpaid leave outside of cases involving domestic violence or child abuse. As a result, Rozier’s salary, which had been placed in escrow, must now be released.
Rozier is in the final year of a four-year, $96.2 million contract and is due to earn more than $26.6 million this season. He has not played a single game for the Heat during the campaign and is expected to become a free agent this summer.
NBPA welcomes ruling on due process
In a statement following the decision, as reported by the media, the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) said it was pleased with the outcome.
Both the NBA and the Heat had previously agreed to escrow Rozier’s salary after his arrest and indictment on federal charges linked to an alleged gambling conspiracy.
Rozier pleads not guilty in federal gambling case
Rozier has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges of wire fraud and money laundering, and his legal team filed a motion to dismiss the case in December.
Federal prosecutors allege that Rozier shared non-public information with an associate during the 2022–23 season, when he was playing for the Charlotte Hornets. According to court filings, Rozier allegedly informed the associate in advance that he would exit a game early due to a foot injury.
That information was then allegedly sold to bettors, who placed large wagers on player prop “unders”, profiting when Rozier left the game after just nine minutes.
Rozier was arrested in October as part of a broader FBI investigation into illegal sports betting and insider information within professional basketball. He remains free on a $3 million bond and is scheduled to return to court in March.
Gambler sentenced in NBA betting probe involving Rozier
The case took a significant step forward this month when a federal judge in Brooklyn sentenced gambler Timothy McCormack to two years in prison, making him the first defendant to be sentenced in the investigation.
According to Reuters, McCormack admitted to using insider information to place wagers tied to games involving Rozier and former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter.
US District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall said the offence struck “at the heart of public trust in professional sports,” emphasising that the damage extended beyond financial losses to the cultural integrity of the game.
During sentencing, McCormack acknowledged struggling with a long-term gambling addiction and apologised for exploiting confidential information for profit.
Other players and coaches implicated
Jontay Porter has already been banned for life by the NBA after pleading guilty in 2024. Prosecutors said Porter disclosed confidential injury information and deliberately manipulated his playing time to influence betting outcomes. He is awaiting sentencing.
The wider probe has also led to arrests of coaches and former players, including Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and former Cavaliers player and assistant coach Damon Jones, in separate cases.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has described the allegations as “deeply troubling” and reaffirmed that competitive integrity remains non-negotiable.
Federal probe expands to additional NBA games
Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York are now examining additional NBA games for potential manipulation, according to statements made by government attorneys during recent court proceedings, as reported by several media outlets. The investigation initially centered on seven games named in an October indictment but has since widened as authorities uncover what they allege is a broader insider betting ring.
According to The Athletic, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former Raptors center Jontay Porter are among those charged in connection with the scheme. Prosecutors allege that players and associates used non-public information, including early exits from games, to influence player prop bets placed by third parties.
Previously, in response to the scandal, the NBA rolled out new internal safeguards aimed at limiting opportunities for insider betting. As part of the new rules, teams are now required to resubmit injury reports on game days between late morning and early afternoon, update public injury listings every 15 minutes, and increase cooperation with sportsbook operators to flag suspicious betting patterns.
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