Following a procedural status conference at a Brooklyn federal courthouse, defense attorneys for veteran NBA guard Terry Rozier have leveled harsh criticism at the National Basketball Association, accusing the league of flagrantly fouling their client’s fundamental presumption of innocence.
The high-profile court appearance transpired just hours prior to the New York Knicks executing a historic comeback victory at Madison Square Garden in the NBA Finals.
Honest Services Indictment Sets February 2027 Trial Date
Rozier, a first-round selection in the 2015 NBA Draft and former Charlotte Hornets guard, returned to the Big Apple court to face a superseding indictment unsealed late last month. Already fighting charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, Rozier pleaded not guilty this week to new counts of honest services wire fraud conspiracy and bribery in sporting contests.
The government alleges that the player disseminated confidential inside information regarding his plans to exit an active game early to a childhood friend, Deniro Laster. In turn, Laster allegedly passed the tips to a betting syndicate managed by Eric Earnest and Shane Hennen to secure profitable outcomes on player prop sheets. US District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall has officially scheduled the trial to commence on February 8, 2027.
Jim Trusty, Rozier’s lead attorney, confirmed that the player, who earned the nickname “Scary Terry” during his career and is currently a free agent following his release by the Miami Heat in April, remains highly resolute:
“He’s strong now, he’ll be strong when his day of exoneration comes. We’ll fight whoever is going to come at us.”
Battle Over the Standard No Contact Release Conditions
The procedural friction centers on a standard no-contact order issued under the Bail Reform Act of 1984, which bars defendants from communicating with alleged victims or witnesses. Assistant US Attorney Kaitlin Farrell explained that under the honest services wire fraud doctrine, Rozier is accused of conspiring to defraud the Hornets franchise and the NBA of the intangible right to his honest services, necessitating that both entities remain on the restriction list.
However, Trusty pointed out that because Terry Rozier is actively seeking to sign with a new team, the no-contact order technically prevents him from communicating with a Hornets player during an active NBA game. While the Hornets took a neutral position on modifying the release terms, the NBA explicitly objected to lifting the proscription. Judge Hall has set a strict June 15 deadline for the league to submit a formal letter outlining its position. Trusty expressed severe frustration regarding the league’s rigid stance, stating:
“They’re still trying to find ways to pretend they’re a victim. They’re not on the side of the angels on this case. They’ve made decisions that completely contradict the presumption of innocence.”
The league has declined to comment on Trusty’s statements. Following the initial indictments last October, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated he was deeply disturbed by the charges, noting that while integrity monitors spotted aberrational betting patterns around a March 2023 game, internal league reviews concluded Rozier did not violate league guidelines. Silver added that while the NBA continues to cooperate with the government, the association lacks subpoena power in gambling investigations.
