Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups have been taken into custody amidst a federal probe into sports betting, sources disclosed to The Associated Press on Thursday.
The specific charges against them have not been disclosed yet. Two insiders, preferring anonymity, shared details with AP about Rozier, with one also confirming Billups’ arrest.
The NBA has refrained from comment thus far. It’s worth noting that Rozier had been under previous scrutiny by the league, and there are ongoing investigations into former Detroit player Malik Beasley, as per one of the sources who spoke to AP.
Rozier was present in his Heat uniform during the game against the Magic in Orlando on Wednesday, although he did not participate. His arrest took place early Thursday morning in Orlando. The Heat organization has not issued an immediate response to the situation.
A message was left for Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, on Thursday. Trusty had earlier informed ESPN that Rozier was cleared of any wrongdoing following initial inquiries by the NBA and FBI officials in 2023.
FBI Director Kash Patel and other law enforcement representatives are anticipated to share more details during a press briefing on Thursday.
The case is being handled by the U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn, the same office that prosecuted former NBA player Jontay Porter. Porter, a former Toronto Raptors center, confessed to deliberately underperforming in games to benefit individuals betting against him.
One particular game involving Rozier that has raised suspicions occurred on March 23, 2023, when the Hornets faced the New Orleans Pelicans. Rozier played briefly in the first quarter but did not return, citing a foot issue, and did not play the rest of the season, with Charlotte out of playoff contention.
On that night, Rozier tallied modest stats before exiting, leading to speculation among bettors who had stakes on his performance for the game. Social media erupted with claims of foul play in the sports betting realm.
Rozier, aged 31, has extensive NBA experience, having played for the Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, and now the Heat. He is currently in the final year of a lucrative four-year contract he inked with the Hornets in 2021.
Billups, a 49-year-old former NBA star elected to the Hall of Fame in 2024, has had a distinguished playing career before transitioning into coaching. He took over as the Trail Blazers’ head coach in 2021 and recently secured a contract extension in April 2025.
