Hornets Pull Plug On Event Mocking Terry Rozier Amid Gambling Investigation

The Charlotte Hornets’ event coordinator may be polishing their résumé after cracking a wild joke at the expense of former Hornet Terry Rozier.

READ: 'Scary' Terry Rozier's NBA Betting Scandal Details Raises More Questions Than Answers

Rozier, now with the Miami Heat, was tied earlier this year to a federal probe into possible sports gambling activity. Investigators reviewed footage of him hoisting bad shots, allegedly linked to bets placed on his unders.

CHARLOTTE - Terry Rozier of the Charlotte Hornets reacts following a three point basket during the second half of their game against the Miami Heat at Spectrum Center on December 11, 2023. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

In an odd twist, Charlotte tried to play off the scandal by scheduling a Sports Betting Night for March 17, when Rozier’s Heat visit the Hornets. That date also happens to be Rozier’s birthday.

Heat reporter Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel said Wednesday that while the Hornets called the booking "coincidental," they later scrapped the event.

The federal probe into Rozier goes back to a March 23, 2023, game against the New Orleans Pelicans, when he was still with Charlotte. 

Authorities, including the FBI, flagged suspicious wagers on Rozier’s player props, especially his unders in points, rebounds and assists. 

The case is part of the same investigation that led to former Toronto Raptor Jontay Porter’s lifetime ban from the NBA for gambling violations.

Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat reacts to a three point basket late in regulation to tie the game against the Detroit Pistons with Terry Rozier #2 in the first round of the Emirates NBA Cup at Little Caesars Arena on November 12, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Records show 30 bets were placed in just 46 minutes on Rozier’s unders that night, raising concerns about insider information or possible manipulation.

Footage from the game shows Rozier tossing up inefficient shots and looking disengaged, fueling speculation that he may have been trying to hit the betting line. 

While the NBA did its own review and cleared him of rule violations, the federal case remains open, with no charges so far.

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