Terry Rozier Pleads Not Guilty As NBA Gambling Case Heads To Trial

Terry Rozier arrives at Brooklyn Federal Court

New court filings show texts cited by Terry Rozier’s defense in a gambling case. The NBA free agent faces 4 charges and wants the case dismissed.

Terry Rozier files motion to dismiss charges in NBA gambling case...

Terry Rozier is asking a federal judge to drop half of the charges against him. The NBA veteran faces four counts tied to an alleged sports betting scheme that shook the league last year.

In a Friday filing in New York’s US District Court, Rozier’s lawyer David Markus cited a text from alleged co-conspirator Deniro Laster. Markus argued the message proves Rozier never agreed to alter his play to help gamblers.

The message also suggests Rozier was unaware that anyone was wagering on his stats in a Hornets game on March 23, 2023.

According to the filing, Laster wrote in the text: "Dont tell chum bout the bet." Markus noted that “Chum” is Rozier’s nickname.

The person who received the message replied “Hell no,” the court filing states.

Prosecutors claim Rozier told co-conspirators he would exit the game early so they could place bets. Markus countered that the texts “should end the case.”

 

Markus wrote: “One does not hide a bet from the person who supposedly sold it.”

In their own filing, prosecutors said they have “developed evidence from multiple sources that this text chain does not relate to sports gambling.”

Rozier was arrested in October 2025 on allegations he manipulated his play in the March 23, 2023 game. Prosecutors later added two charges in May, alleging he agreed to accept a $100,000 bribe.

Rozier, now a free agent who has played for the Celtics, Hornets and Heat, has entered a not guilty plea.

Rozier’s legal team moved in December to have the original counts of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy thrown out. Instead, a superseding indictment came in May that kept those charges and added two additional ones.

On Friday, the defense again asked a judge to dismiss the counts of bribery in sporting events and conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud.

Terry Rozier asked a federal judge to toss 2 charges related to the alleged $100,000 bribe DOJ prosecutors say he took to leave a 2023 Hornets game early. His lawyers say a text message 👇 proves his innocence

“Dont tell chum bout the bet.”

"Hell no."https://t.co/bAvGkivjkk pic.twitter.com/ys0ruz4t0Z

— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) July 31, 2026

Attorney David Markus also requested the trial, scheduled for next February, be transferred from the Eastern District of New York to the Southern District of Florida, Rozier’s home district.

Two other defendants in the case have already pleaded guilty. They are former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones and Marves Fairley, who described himself as a “gambling guru.”