Rozier's Spectacular Misses Under Federal Investigation
Audience Lampoons Terry Rozier's Subpar Performance, Sparks Speculation of Game Manipulation
Terry Rozier's game on Wednesday night was so abysmal that basketball fans can't help but joke about the possibility of him fixing games for betting purposes - although it's mostly in good humor.
The numbers, at first glance, might not seem too horrendous: 12 points, one rebound, and two assists. Compared to his season averages of 11.8/3.9/2.8, Rozier was fairly close to his usual performance. But upon closer inspection, things aren't quite as rosy. He made just three of his 14 shots, including a paltry one of eight from three-point range, with four turnovers to boot.
But that's still not the whole story. What's got fans talking is the manner in which Rozier missed his shots and committed his turnovers. These weren't typical off nights – they were ugly, sloppy, and seemingly careless, leading some to question the federal investigation into Rozier for his role in a growing betting scandal.
Social media posts and replies to clips of Rozier's performance often jest about him fixing games, with comments like, "He's throwing games" and "That's what sports betting looks like." One Reddit user even wrote, "Them Terry Rozier gambling allegations gotta be real. Bro in DEBT. He in way too deep with them people."
It's important to note that the investigation into Rozier dates back to late January, when the Wall Street Journal reported that he was under federal scrutiny for possibly manipulating his performance as part of a sprawling betting ring implicated in both NBA and collegiate games. This same group has been linked to the Toronto Raptors' Jontay Porter, who deliberately underperformed in two games to ensure his stats didn't hit the "over" on several prop bets[2][4].
The fateful game in question took place on March 23, 2023, between the Charlotte Hornets (Rozier's team at the time) and the New Orleans Pelicans. Rozier, who was enjoying a solid scoring season, averaging 21.1 points in 35.3 minutes per game, left the contest after just nine minutes due to a supposed foot injury.
U.S. Integrity, a sports betting monitoring firm, detected unusually high betting activity on Rozier's "under" prop bets and brought this to the attention of sportsbooks[2]. Some outlets stopped taking bets on Rozier props following these warnings.
Rozier missed the final eight games of the season as the Hornets finished with the fourth-worst record in the league. The NBA was aware of the betting red flags and carried out its own investigation, finding that Rozier did not violate any rules. The league is now cooperating with the federal investigation[2].
Despite the NBA's findings, the federal probe into Rozier continues, with no public indictments or sanctions against him reported. As of May 2025, Rozier has not been charged with any crime.
The situation underscores the NBA’s partnership with third-party betting integrity monitors and data providers like Sportradar in an ongoing effort to detect and prevent betting-related scandals[4]. While the investigation into Rozier is still active, let's hope it turns out to be nothing more than a series of unlucky shots and sloppy plays, because a deliberate attempt to manipulate games would be much dumber than the actual betting at stake.
In light of the ongoing federal investigation, it's not surprising that sports-analysis discussions around Terry Rozier's game on March 23, 2023, are focusing on more than just his poor shooting performance in NBA basketball matches. Despite the NBA clearing Rozier of any rules violations, questions about his potential role in a growing betting scandal persist.
