A Federal Foul

Terry Rozier’s name is back in the headlines — and not for a highlight reel. The 31-year-old NBA guard was arrested by federal authorities for allegedly leaking nonpublic health information to bettors before a 2023 game while he was with the Charlotte Hornets.

According to prosecutors, Rozier told a friend, Deniro Laster, that he planned to leave the game early because of a lingering foot injury. That friend allegedly turned the inside info into $100,000 in profit by selling it to bettors who bet against Rozier covering his point total.

The $100K Tip

In sports betting, a single tip can turn into serious money. When Rozier left the game after just nine minutes, the bets paid off — and so did the federal attention. What might’ve sounded like locker-room talk quickly became a potential federal offense under insider information laws.

A Lawyer’s Loose Lips

Then came the twist: Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, went on The Will Cain Show to defend his client — on national television.
Trusty told the host, “Confiding in a friend is not a crime.”

But for many fans and legal analysts, that comment raised more eyebrows than it calmed. The question became: why would an attorney speak publicly about a pending case, especially one involving federal charges?

Damage Control or Damage Done?

Instead of helping his client, Trusty’s remarks may have made things worse. His statements could now be used by prosecutors to argue that Rozier’s camp is already admitting to conversations that crossed a legal line — even if unintentionally.

A Lesson for the League

This case is about more than one player. The NBA has been strict on its stance toward gambling integrity, especially as sports betting grows nationwide. Whether Rozier intended to profit or not, the message is clear: in today’s league, loose talk can cost you everything — and one bad legal move can seal the deal.