NBA Union to Contest Miami Heat Guard Terry Rozier’s Pay Suspension After Gambling Arrest
Nov 05, 2025
Men watching a sporting event on TV | Source: Pexels
NBA Launches Comprehensive Review of Betting Practices Following Federal Gambling Indictment
The National Basketball Association has announced a sweeping review of betting-related practices across the league to “protect the integrity of the NBA and our affiliated leagues,” following a federal indictment alleging that confidential player information was leaked to gamblers. The review will focus on proposition bets, injury reporting, and the use of artificial intelligence to detect irregular betting patterns that could indicate the misuse of inside information.
Advertisement
According to a memo circulated on October 26 to all 30 teams and obtained by CNBC, the initiative was outlined by NBA General Counsel Rick Buchanan and Executive Vice President for Governance and Policy Dan Spillane. The directive, addressed to the league’s board of governors, team presidents, general managers, and counsels, comes in the wake of charges filed in the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn against six individuals, including Miami Heat player Terry Rozier.
Rozier and five others are accused of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering after allegedly using private player information to place profitable bets through legal sportsbooks such as FanDuel and DraftKings. Prosecutors allege that Rozier tipped off a friend in March 2023, while he was a member of the Charlotte Hornets, that he would exit a game early due to a “purported injury.” The group reportedly wagered more than $200,000 on Rozier underperforming, with many of the bets paying out after he left the game nine minutes in.
A game of basketball | Source: Pexels
Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, denied any wrongdoing, saying, “Terry is not a gambler, but he is not afraid of a fight, and he looks forward to winning this fight.”
The NBA said the incident highlighted vulnerabilities in existing safeguards. “While the unusual betting on Terry Rozier’s ‘unders’ in the March 2023 game was detected in real time because the bets were placed legally, we believe there is more that can be done from a legal/regulatory perspective to protect the integrity of the NBA and our affiliated leagues,” the memo stated.
The memo added that proposition bets on individual player performance “involve heightened integrity concerns and require additional scrutiny.” In addition to reviewing betting policies, the league said it would reassess player injury disclosure rules, training and education for NBA personnel, and protective measures for players. “Every effort must be made to ensure that players, coaches, and other NBA personnel are fully aware of the dire risks that gambling can impose upon their careers and livelihoods,” the memo said.
The NBA also announced plans to strengthen its integrity monitoring programs, using artificial intelligence and data from betting operators, social media, and other sources to flag potential misuse of inside information.
Men watching a sporting event on TV | Source: Pexels
The same indictment identifies “Co-Conspirator 8,” believed to match the career details of Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, though he is not charged in that case. Prosecutors allege the individual shared internal team strategy in March 2023 that the Trail Blazers intended to lose to the Chicago Bulls to improve draft prospects, resulting in approximately $100,000 in wagers. Billups faces a separate indictment in Brooklyn tied to an alleged scheme involving rigged poker games, which he also denies. His attorney, Chris Heywood, stated, “Chauncey Billups has never and would never gamble on basketball games, provide insider information, or sacrifice the trust of his team and the League.”
Both Rozier and Billups have been placed on leave by the NBA pending the outcome of the investigations. The league’s latest review follows similar actions last year after suspicious betting on Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter. In that case, the NBA instructed sportsbooks to remove prop bets for players on two-way or 10-day contracts, citing increased vulnerability to manipulation. Porter later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in July 2024.
Advertisement
