‘Scary Terry’ Back in Headlines as New Details Surface in NBA Probe
Former Boston Celtics guard Terry Rozier, once beloved for his breakout “Scary Terry” run during the team’s 2018 Eastern Conference Finals campaign, was never officially cleared by the NBA
NBA Investigation Into Rozier Never Closed
A league source told Torre that Rozier’s case “was never closed.”
“Us not being able to find something is not the same as cleared,” the source told Torre. “It is true we did not find a violation of our rules, but we did not close our investigation.”
According to Torre, the NBA hired Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, a prominent New York law firm, to examine suspicious betting activity involving Rozier’s “under” prop bets ahead of a March 23, 2023 game while he was playing for the
Investigators interviewed Rozier via Zoom and searched his phone, but found no direct evidence of wrongdoing. The case was then referred to federal authorities, allowing Rozier to continue playing—first in Charlotte and later with the
Federal Allegations Emerge
Rozier, 31, was later accused of giving non-public injury information to his friend Deniro Laster before that 2023 Hornets game. Prosecutors allege Rozier told Laster he planned to exit early due to a sore foot. Laster then allegedly sold the tip to bettors for roughly $100,000, profiting when Rozier played only nine minutes.
According to the indictment reviewed by Heavy Sports, Rozier paid for Laster’s travel to Philadelphia to collect the winnings, and the two later counted the money together. Both men were charged with wire fraud and money-laundering conspiracy — part of a sweeping federal crackdown that also implicated
Rozier’s Defense: ‘Confiding in a Friend Isn’t a Crime’
Getty Jim Trusty, attorney for Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, talks to press outside the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, rejected the allegations, framing the exchange as a private conversation rather than criminal intent.
“Confiding in a childhood friend and saying, ‘I’m banged up, I might sit early,’ isn’t a crime,” Trusty told
Trusty argued Rozier had “no motive to risk his $100 million contract and shoe deal” over a $100,000 betting gain.
Celtics Legacy and Current Fallout
Rozier’s name still resonates in Boston, where his breakout during the 2018 playoffs — including his Game 7 heroics over Milwaukee and fiery battles with Eric Bledsoe — made him a local cult hero. Known for his fearlessness and swagger, “Scary Terry” became a merchandising sensation and a symbol of Boston’s scrappy underdog spirit.
After leaving the Celtics in 2019, Rozier spent five seasons in Charlotte before being traded to the Heat in 2024.
Now, his NBA future hangs in the balance. The league has placed his $26.6 million salary for the 2025–26 season in escrow pending the outcome of the case, according to
The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) announced plans to challenge that decision, arguing that suspending pay violates the Collective Bargaining Agreement and the “presumption of innocence.”
“We plan to challenge the decision through proper channels,” an NBPA spokesperson told the Associated Press.
Rozier has posted bail using his $6 million Florida home as collateral. If cleared, he will receive full payment and could be reinstated.
For Celtics fans, the news offers a bittersweet reminder: the same guard who once electrified TD Garden now stands at the center of one of the NBA’s biggest integrity scandals.
Dan Campbell’s brutally honest assessment of Lions should scare rest of NFL
The Detroit Lions have been one of the best teams in the NFL this season. Even after losing both of their coordinators this offseason, Detroit seemingly hasn't lost a step. They come out of their bye week with a 5-2 record, scoring key wins against some of the top contenders in the process.
If the Lions are to be believed, they still aren't playing to their full potential. Head coach Dan Campbell believes that Detroit still has another gear this season. The Lions HC said that they could stand to be better at playing complementary football over the course of the season.
“I really believe we haven't played our best ball yet collectively in all three phases,” Campbell said, per Eric Woodyard of ESPN. “And that's really what we're trying to get to here is how can we sharpen ourselves. We know it's going to take every phase. Every game's different, and one unit may have to pick up the slack, but we need to start playing complete ball across the board. And just keep improving — like with all these teams that we're in the race with right now. So, that's where we're at.”
The Lions have highlighted four key areas for improvement during their bye week. That includes their third-down efficiency on both sides of the ball. Detroit is ranked 22nd in third-down conversion rate this season with just 37.7%, far below their 47% rate last season. On the other side, they're allowing a similar third-down conversion rate on defense, which is higher than their 32.5% rate last year.
The two other areas that the Lions focused on during the bye week are their red zone defense and Jameson Williams' involvement on offense. While Detroit's defense has been generally solid this season, it's allowing a whopping 63.6% of its opponents' red zone trips to end in a touchdown. On the other hand, Williams has had an up-and-down season thanks in large part to his fluctuating target rate. Detroit's offense is at its best when the threat of Jamo downfield opens up the rest of the offense. Finding ways to get him in space is going to be crucial for this team moving forward.
The Lions open the second half of their season with a matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at home. Will Detroit apply what they've installed during the bye week in their next games?
