NAILING TERRY ROZIER IN A GAMBLING SCAM WOULD BRING INTEGRITY TO THE NBA
It’s easy for sports leagues to trot out meaningless players in scandals, but Rozier is a longtime asset with a $96 million contract — making us wonder why anyone would bet after making bigger money
Please condemn sports leagues for targeting who-gives-a-whit players in gambling probes. That has changed in the NBA, where Terry Rozier brings a $96 million contract amid a productive career that included two Eastern Conference finals. If he has rigged games and helped gamblers who waged against him, consider this the biggest takedown of an athlete since, who, Phil Mickelson?
Then Adam Silver will have nailed Somebody, which other commissioners haven’t done much since joining hands with sportsbooks.
Common folks think games between the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans don’t matter, especially in late March. The amount of money wagered on Rozier was way over the top in 2023, according to casino grimes, who blew loud whistles and stopped accepting bets that he would fail. They recalled when Jontay Porter’s behavior led to the league’s lifetime ban last year for committing wire fraud. These happened to be the same detestable gamblers tainting integrity, say the feds, including their dealings with as many as seven college programs.
If Rozier made money in a scam, toss him forever. Silver won’t approach a superstar, who normally doesn’t need to gamble because of his wealth. But Rozier has been in the league for 10 seasons and plays for the Miami Heat, which deals with this headache in addition to Jimmy Butler’s trade demand. The NBA investigated the case and, at the time, didn’t charge Rozier with a crime. Now a team spokesman says, “We are now aware of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York related to this matter and have been cooperating with that investigation.”
When in doubt, Silver lets the government bust wrongdoers. On March 23, 2023, as wagerers assumed Rozier would fail to reach numerical breakdowns, the U.S. Integrity monitoring agency sent its third NBA alert. The first two were about Porter. The third belonged to Rozier, who averaged 21 points and 35 minutes a game. He started for the Hornets and never returned when he subbed out after nine minutes. The doctor said he had a foot injury, but bettors lost their minds. “Rozier situation is suss,” wrote one.
Who was his boss at the time? Michael Jordan, the gambler himself. If a violator ever pondered a scam, it would happen at the conclusion of a season when a non-contending team wasn’t newsworthy. Did Jordan play a role in hiding Rozier? Did Heat boss Pat Riley have any idea about the whispers? Silver should ask all questions.
“I know what I did was wrong, unlawful, and I am deeply sorry,” Porter said.
“There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, our teams and everyone associated with our sport,” said Silver, “which is why Jontay Porter’s blatant violations of our gaming rules are being met with the most severe punishment.”
He runs his league as if bothered by constant gambling suspicions. He’ll crack down even when Caitlin Clark bums him out. What a show if Clark had met Steph Curry in a three-point challenge at All-Star Weekend next month. She preferred a contest at the WNBA All-Star Game in July. She had a chance to bail out the NBA during a distressed event when top players don’t care.
She said no to the men.
“Caitlin will not be at NBA All-Star,” said her rep at Excel Sports Management. “She wants her first 3-point contest to be at WNBA All-Star in Indianapolis.”
Instead, Sabrina Ionescu is expected to repeat her challenge. She lost 29-26 to Curry in a shoot-off. Imagine if Clark showed up in San Francisco and beat him. She flipped off Silver, a gender breakthrough.
For now, the NBA is being frisked. Terry Rozier made his name in Boston as “Scary Terry.” Since then, is he Scary for another reason? I would ask why a player who makes $96 million needs more money via possible fraud. We always wonder dumb things about the dopes.
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Jay Mariotti, called “without question the most impacting Chicago sportswriter of the past quarter-century,’’ writes general sports columns for Substack while appearing on some of the 1,678,498 podcasts and shows in production today. He is an accomplished columnist, TV panelist and talk/podcast host. Living in Los Angeles, he gravitated by osmosis to film projects.