NBA Union to Contest Miami Heat Guard Terry Rozier’s Pay Suspension After Gambling Arrest

The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) announced in late October that it will formally challenge the Miami Heat’s decision to suspend Terry Rozier’s pay following his arrest in a federal gambling investigation. The move comes amid growing scrutiny of gambling-related cases in professional basketball, which have also ensnared Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups.

Rozier, 31, and Billups, 49, were both arrested on October 22 on separate charges and subsequently placed on leave by the NBA. Their respective teams have withheld their salaries pending the outcome of the investigations. Rozier earns approximately $26.6 million for the current season, while Billups is reportedly paid about $4.7 million under his contract for 2024–25.

In a statement to CNBC, the NBPA criticized the league’s decision to suspend Rozier’s pay, calling it inconsistent with the presumption of innocence. “While we are in agreement with the league that upholding the integrity of the game is of the utmost importance, their decision to place Terry on leave without pay is counter to the presumption of innocence and inconsistent with the terms of our Collective Bargaining Agreement,” a union spokesperson said. “We plan to challenge their decision via the proper channels.”

Basketball and rim | Source: Pexels

According to court filings in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, Rozier is charged with conspiring alongside five other defendants to provide confidential information about players and teams to gamblers. Prosecutors allege that the information was then used to place bets on NBA games.

The indictment accuses Rozier of telling one of the defendants in March 2023, while he was playing for the Charlotte Hornets, that he planned to leave a game early due to an alleged injury. The defendant and two associates allegedly used that information to place more than $200,000 in prop bets that Rozier would underperform in specific categories. The bets reportedly paid off when Rozier exited the game after just nine minutes.

Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, denied the allegations, asserting that his client “did nothing wrong.” Trusty said, “Terry is not a gambler, but he is not afraid of a fight, and he looks forward to winning this fight.”

Trusty also addressed reports regarding a federal tax lien against Rozier’s Florida property, saying the lien was issued in error. “Several years ago, a flawed e-filing attempt led to the IRS issuing a lien for Terry’s full tax liability for 2021, roughly $8 million,” Trusty said. “Once the accountant clarified the situation with the IRS, Terry was found to owe only $3,000 in unpaid taxes for 2021. That amount has been taken care of and we fully expect the defunct lien to be withdrawn in the near future.”

Baccarat table | Source: Pexels

Billups, meanwhile, faces separate charges tied to alleged collaboration with Mafia associates in an underground poker operation. Prosecutors claim the scheme used high-tech cheating devices to defraud players out of millions of dollars. His lawyer, Chris Heywood, declined to comment on the status of Billups’ salary but previously defended his client’s character, stating, “Anyone who knows Chauncey Billups knows he is a man of integrity; men of integrity do not cheat and defraud others.”

Both teams and the NBA declined to comment on the salary suspensions. The disciplinary measures were revealed just two days after the league announced a broad internal review of betting-related matters to “protect the integrity of the NBA and our affiliated leagues.”

As the NBPA prepares to challenge the league’s decision, both cases highlight growing tensions between the NBA’s efforts to safeguard its integrity and the rights of players and coaches facing unresolved allegations.