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The Miami Heat showed their “full support” for guard Terry Rozier following his arrest for his alleged involvement in an illegal betting scheme this week.
Rozier allegedly faked an injury during a March 23, 2023 game, while a member of the Charlotte Hornets, so his friends and co-conspirators could bet on his “under” prop bets.
Rozier did not play in Miami’s season opener on Wednesday and was arrested the next morning and then placed on leave by the NBA.
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Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) celebrates with guard Terry Rozier (2) after hitting a three-point basket as time runs out to win the game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. (Rick Osentoski/USA Today Sports)
Friday’s shootout without Rozier brought reality to set in for the Heat, who played a game that night against the Memphis Grizzlies.
“You support him through and through. He’s our brother at the end of the day,” Heat captain Bam Adebayo said during the shootout, via ESPN. “It’s been a little weird without him, actually, because he’s the first person I talk to in the morning. He brings this great energy to our team.”
“We are behind him. Full support.”
“Terry is someone who is very dear to us,” added head coach Erik Spoelstra. “He’s had a real positive impact on our locker room, as well as the staff and players, including last year when he wasn’t in the rotation often. We send him our thoughts and care as he goes through this.”
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) handles the ball during the second quarter against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena in Washington, District of Columbia, March 31, 2025. (Reggie Hildred/Imagn Images)
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“You have no choice (but to move on),” Spoelstra added. “The league doesn’t wait. It doesn’t stop for you. … You have to learn to compartmentalize and focus on what’s important, which is getting ready for a big game tonight.”
Miami defeated the Grizzlies, 146-114.
Neither Hornets officials nor the betting companies were informed of Rozier’s plan, according to the Justice Department’s indictment, and Rozier was not listed on the team’s injury report.
Deniro Laster then allegedly sold this information to other co-conspirators, and numerous people placed bets totaling approximately $200,000 on Rozier’s “slot” bets to hit both parlay and straight bets. After Rozier played only nine minutes and never returned, the bets were won. Rozier and Laster counted the cash winnings at Rozier’s Charlotte home about a week later, the indictment says.
Terry Rozier of the Charlotte Hornets brings the ball down the court against the Philadelphia 76ers during their game at Spectrum Center on January 20, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
Rozier and Chauncey Billups, the latter of whom was arrested in connection with an illegal poker ring, were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The NBA announced that Billups and Rozier had been placed on immediate leave from their teams, “and we will continue to cooperate with the appropriate authorities.”
“The integrity of our game remains our top priority,” the NBA said.
