A match-fixing scandal is way too common in sports. The usual culprits are known to dabble in sports like boxing, wrestling, and the like, where it’s relatively easy to change the outcomes of games. But that doesn’t mean team sports are alien to this concept. We’ve seen it in multiple team sports—even as recently as former Raptors player Jontay Porter getting banned for life for fixing. But now Miami Heat’s guard Terry Rozier III has been under investigation by the feds for the same reason.

He’s been under the gun since March 2023. Rozier was a player for the Hornets back then, and there’s been chatter on the streets about him throwing their game vs. the Pelicans. Charlotte was in a bad spot then as well, way out of contention for the playoffs. He played 9 minutes 36 seconds in the first quarter finishing with five points, four rebounds and two assists in that opening period. He cited a foot issue and left the game prematurely, not returning to the floor again that season. The Hive’s situation at the time didn’t bat any eyelids for Scary Terry leaving the court early, but his leave did coincide with multiple unusual bets.

“The league conducted an investigation and did not find a violation of NBA rules. 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,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass confirmed in a statement.

The U.S. Attorney’s office has refused to comment on the situation but reports state that Jontay might’ve been connected to the Rozier case as well. WSJ reported that Porter “had inside information that prompted them to bet large sums of money against Terry Rozier a year earlier.” The prop bets were most likely placed against Rozier’s output in the game, more specifically based on how many points and rebounds he could muster up in the game. The story is still developing, but damn- a sticky situation to be in.

Viral footage condemning Terry Hozier surfaces

All this isn’t without a shred of proof either. There’s been footage of fans on X(formerly Twitter) sharing clips of how blatant his throwing was. I’m sure Terry would’ve hoped he threw balls in the basket better vs New Orleans than he did to get him under investigation.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver banned Porter for life after he was convicted, saying “There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, our teams and everyone associated with our sport, which is why Jontay Porter’s blatant violations of our gaming rules are being met with the most severe punishment.” I know for a fact that Hozier would be taking himself to church praying that he doesn’t face the music the way Porter did.

Terry Hozier hasn’t been convicted yet. He’s said that he’s in ‘a great headspace’ despite the allegations, emphasizing his focus on basketball and indicated no issues with maintaining that focus amid the ongoing investigation. Let’s see what’s to come, as we know the feds don’t back down without a fight- and seeing Scary Terry’s career at the Hornets and now at the Heat, he doesn’t either.