Terry Rozier will face trial on Feb. 8, 2027, after the former Miami Heat guard pleaded not guilty to new federal bribery charges tied to an alleged NBA betting scheme.
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Rozier case now sits in two places at once: Brooklyn federal court and NBA free agency. Prosecutors say Rozier helped bettors by manipulating a 2023 game while he played for the Charlotte Hornets. Rozier denies all charges.
A judge set the Feb. 8, 2027 trial date after prosecutors added bribery in sporting contests and honest services wire fraud conspiracy to the indictment. Rozier already faced conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering charges from an October 2025 FBI sports betting case.
Rozier remains out on a $3 million bond. However, bond conditions bar him from contact with the Hornets and the NBA. Jim Trusty, Rozier attorney, argues that rule blocks any real path back to basketball, because NBA teams may not want to sign a player who cannot play against Charlotte.
“The NBA literally has flagrantly fouled the presumption of innocence,” Trusty said to ESPN on Wednesday. “They should be ashamed of themselves. As you heard from the hearing today, they’re still trying to find ways to pretend they’re a victim and that Terry should be prohibited from playing basketball, at least practically speaking.”
Trusty also filed a June 3 motion in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, according to AP. He said the no-contact rule could damage Rozier free agency chances once the market opens on June 30.
“With the NBA’s free agency process officially beginning June 30, maintaining the Hornets on the no-contact list would likely prevent him from having any opportunity to play in the NBA,” Trusty wrote in the motion last week. “Under the current ruling of the arbitrator, an inability to play for or against the Charlotte Hornets would constitute a ‘failure to perform services’ by Mr. Rozier and substantially diminish or eliminate any chance of being contracted by an NBA team.”
Prosecutors want the ban to stay because they call the Hornets and the NBA victims in the case. Rozier did not play for Miami last season, and the Heat released him in April after the NBA season.