Terry Rozier pleads not guilty to bribery charges in NBA gambling scheme

NBA free agent Terry Rozier pleaded not guilty to charges of sports bribery and honest services wire fraud conspiracy in a Brooklyn federal courthouse on June 10, after prosecutors said that he accepted a bribe after letting bettors know he would fake an injury and leave a game early.

According to a superseding indictment, Rozier allegedly schemed to leave early during a March 23, 2023, game against the New Orleans Pelicans due to a foot injury. Rozier played less than 10 minutes in the game and did not return, finishing with five points and two assists. The accusation is that Rozier told co-defendant Deniro Laster he would leave the game early, and that information was sold to others, who made "under" bets on Rozier's statistical performance. Rozier accepted a $100,000 bribe for the scheme, prosecutors said.

The 32-year-old Rozier is already facing wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy after he was arrested in October, part of an alleged wide-ranging illegal gambling scheme that includes ties to organized crime and involves more than 30 individuals. Federal authorities allege in court documents that Rozier provided insider information that gamblers used to place wagers on the Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic, and Toronto Raptors over the span of a year. He requested that the case be thrown out, but no ruling has been issued.

An arbitrator ruled last month that Rozier violated his player's contract and would have to forfeit his 2025-26 season salary of $26.6 million after being indicted.

One of those defendants in the gambling scheme, former NBA player Damon Jones, has already pleaded guilty to helping fix high-stakes poker games and giving bettors information about player injuries, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 6, 2027.