NBA Says Terry Rozier Investigation Lacked Sufficient Evidence, Never Cleared Him

The NBA permitted Terry Rozier to proceed taking part in after a 2023 investigation into suspicious wagering exercise as a result of it didn’t discover ample proof of wrongdoing, although the league by no means technically cleared him, in keeping with NBA spokesperson Mike Bass.

Rozier was arrested and indicted on two federal prices final week alleging he shared data that he would exit a March 23, 2023 sport early with a buddy who offered it to sports activities bettors. The guard appeared in 125 video games over the past two seasons following the league’s probe.

A number of sportsbooks flagged suspicious prop bets on Rozier forward of the 2023 sport when he performed for the Charlotte Hornets. Rozier exited after simply 9 minutes and 34 seconds, scoring 5 factors—16 fewer than his season common—whereas $263,000 was wagered on his prop bets.

“On the time, we didn’t discover ample proof to conclude that Rozier violated league guidelines,” Bass instructed The Athletic. “As is typical for NBA investigations, this conclusion was topic to any new proof we would obtain.”

The NBA interviewed Rozier and examined his telephone earlier than permitting him to proceed taking part in. The league shared its findings with the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the Japanese District of New York, which secured indictments this month.

Bass acknowledged the league’s investigative limitations in comparison with regulation enforcement businesses. The NBA employs a sports activities playing investigative crew led by a high league lawyer and former federal prosecutor.

“The NBA doesn’t have the identical authority or investigatory assets because the federal authorities, together with subpoena energy to acquire data from anybody, regulation enforcement surveillance, wire-tapping and search warrants,” Bass stated.

Rozier’s lawyer Jim Trusty maintains the guard suffered a reliable damage in the course of the sport in query. Bass confirmed an MRI documented Rozier’s damage on the time.

Rozier, by way of his lawyer, has denied the federal prices. The case raises questions concerning the effectiveness of league investigations into suspicious playing exercise with out regulation enforcement assets.