WSJ: Federal Probe Of NBA Betting Scandal Widens To Include Terry Rozier

The Jontay Porter NBA betting scandal has widened considerably, according to a Wall Street Journal report, with veteran NBA starter Terry Rozier now ensnared in the federal investigation.

And according to the report, Rozier may not be the end of the investigations, as people familiar with the situation told the Journal the “inquiry into Rozier is part of a wider government probe into a sprawling ring of gamblers and poker players who have allegedly rigged games across the sports landscape.”

The article goes on to state that authorities believe the people who worked with Porter last year had inside intelligence on Rozier in a game two years ago, and they bet big bucks on “under” props against the then-Hornets player.

“In March 2023, the NBA was alerted to unusual betting activity related to Terry Rozier’s performance in a game between Charlotte and New Orleans,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass told the WSJ. “The league conducted an investigation and did not find a violation of NBA rules. We are now aware of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York related to this matter and have been cooperating with that investigation.”

It’s ‘suss’

The game that caught investigators’ attention took place on March 23, 2023, involving Rozier’s Charlotte Hornets against the New Orleans Pelicans. Before tipoff, betting markets showed highly unusual activity, specifically targeting Rozier to not hit his player props over. The patterns were so concerning that U.S. Integrity, a betting monitoring firm, raised alarms with sportsbooks and the NBA, leading some books to suspend betting on Rozier’s player props entirely.

What unfolded during the game only heightened suspicions. Rozier, who had been averaging 35 minutes and 21 points per game, played just nine minutes before exiting during a timeout with a foot injury. He never returned to the game and would miss the Hornets’ final eight contests of the season.

Over the last two seasons, U.S. Integrity only issued three NBA game alerts: this one, and two involving Porter, according to the article.

A representative for Rozier declined to comment, and he has not been charged with any crime or accused of teeing things up for the bettors. 

According to the article, the scope of the investigation continues to grow, with investigators looking into the ring’s ties with college basketball.

Last year, the Porter scandal shocked the NBA and the gambling world when he was banned from the league for life for pretending to be sick or injured and removing himself from two games to make sure his co-conspirators could cash their under bets.

He pleaded guilty last year, along with three others involved in the scheme.