FBI arrests Heat Guard Terry Rozier in sports betting investigation

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier have been arrested in connection with a federal investigation into sports betting and illegal gambling, sources familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The charge or charges Rozier and Billups face were not immediately known. Two people spoke to the AP about Rozier on the condition of anonymity because they couldn’t discuss details of the investigation publicly. One of these people also told the AP of Billups’ arrest.

The NBA had no immediate comment. The league has investigated Rozier previously and still is looking into the actions of former Detroit player Malik Beasley, one of the sources told the AP.

Terry Rozier was in uniform for the Miami Heat's season opener against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday evening but did not play in the game. He was taken into custody early Thursday morning in Orlando. The team has not yet commented on the arrest, AP reported.

A message was left with Rozier's lawyer, Jim Trusty, on Thursday. Trusty had previously told ESPN that after meeting with NBA and FBI officials in 2023, Rozier was informed that an initial investigation found no wrongdoing on his part, according to the sports network.

A message seeking comment was left with Billups on Thursday morning.

FBI Director Kash Patel and other law enforcement officials were expected to provide more information at a news conference Thursday.

The case was brought by the U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn that previously prosecuted ex-NBA player Jontay Porter. The former Toronto Raptors center pleaded guilty to charges that he withdrew early from games, claiming illness or injury, so that those in the know could win big by betting on him to underperform expectations.

A game involving Rozier that has been in question was played on March 23, 2023, a matchup between the Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans. Rozier played the first 9 minutes and 36 seconds of that game — and not only did not return that night, citing a foot issue, but did not play again that season. Charlotte had eight games remaining and was not in playoff contention, so it did not seem particularly unusual that Rozier was shut down for the season’s final games.

In that March 23 game, Rozier finished with five points, four rebounds and two assists in that opening period — a productive quarter but well below his usual total output for a full game.

Posts from March 23, 2023, still online show that some bettors were angry with sportsbooks that night when it became clear Terry Rozier wouldn’t return to the Charlotte-New Orleans game after the first quarter. Many took to social media, suggesting something “shady” had occurred related to prop bets on his stats that evening.

A prop bet is a type of wager where gamblers bet on whether a player will exceed or fall short of a specific statistical number, such as points, rebounds, or assists.

The Eastern District of New York and FBI Director Kash Patel are expected to hold a press conference to announce arrests linked to the ongoing investigation, according to CBS News.

(With inputs from AP)