Federal prosecutors have received support from both the NBA and the Charlotte Hornets in their effort to keep bond restrictions in place against former NBA guard Terry Rozier as he awaits trial in a high profile gambling case.
The restrictions currently prevent Rozier from contacting current or former members of the Hornets, a condition that his legal team says has effectively stopped him from pursuing a return to professional basketball.
The 32-year-old was arrested in October 2025 and faces multiple charges linked to an alleged sports betting scheme tied to a game between the Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans on March 23, 2023.
According to prosecutors, Rozier, who pleaded not guilty, had told associates in advance about his intention to leave the game early on, enabling bettors to take advantage from wagers placed on his player performance statistics.
The case expanded in May when prosecutors added sports bribery and wire fraud conspiracy charges. Authorities allege Rozier accepted $100,000 in exchange for participating in the scheme. His legal team has also denied those allegations.
The dispute over his release conditions has become a major battleground ahead of trial, which is scheduled for February 8, 2027.
Beyond What’s Necessary, Say Attorneys
According to prosecutors, allowing Rozier to return to the NBA could place him in regular contact with individuals covered by the court’s restrictions. They argue that team activities, treatment sessions, practices and other routine basketball operations would make compliance difficult.
Rozier’s attorneys strongly disagree, saying the conditions go beyond what is necessary to ensure public safety or guarantee his appearance in court. Instead, they argue the restrictions are preventing him from earning a living during a period when he remains legally presumed innocent.
“The NBA and the Miami Heat have 26 million reasons to try to use bond conditions as a disqualification for Terry Rozier from playing basketball,” attorney Jim Trusty wrote in a recent court filing.
Trusty also accused the league of pushing for measures that would effectively isolate Rozier from professional basketball, arguing that prosecutors are using bail conditions in a way that unfairly damages his career.
The financial stakes are significant, with an arbitrator ruling in May that Rozier should not receive most of the $26.6 million owed under his 2025-26 contract with the Miami Heat because the bond conditions prevented him from fulfilling his obligations to the team.
A veteran of 11 NBA seasons, Rozier remains young enough to attract interest from teams seeking an experienced guard. However, the ongoing legal case and the reputational concerns surrounding the allegations continue to cloud any potential return to the league.
The court is expected to decide later this summer whether Rozier’s bond conditions will remain unchanged or be modified before trial.