Overview
- Terry Rozier was arrested in an FBI investigation into illegal gambling tied to a March 23, 2023 Hornets–Pelicans game.
- Federal prosecutors allege Rozier told a friend he would exit that game early so the friend could bet the under on his props, and Rozier played only 10 minutes.
- NBA spokesperson Mike Bass said the league did not pull Rozier from games and cited an MRI-confirmed foot injury, with official reports listing right foot discomfort from March 24 to April 9, 2023.
- After initially saying the NBA kept Rozier out, ESPN's Brian Windhorst walked back his claim, relayed that the Hornets made the decision, and described the league-pulled narrative as a conspiracy theory.
- Comparisons to the Jontay Porter case—ending in a lifetime ban and a guilty plea—have sharpened questions about optics and the NBA's limited investigative authority despite early sportsbook alerts.