Prosecutors: Rozier, friend planned to bet unders on Hornets teammate

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  David PurdumNov 13, 2026, 01:32 PM ET

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  • Joined ESPN in 2014
  • Journalist covering gambling industry since 2008

A co-defendant in an NBA betting case told a gambler that he and Terry Rozier were planning to bet unders on the statistics of another Charlotte Hornets player, federal prosecutors alleged in a court filing Friday.

In April 2023, Deniro Laster allegedly texted co-conspirator Marves Fairley that he and Rozier were "setting up another under bets, this one involving one of Rozier's then-teammates," prosecutors wrote in the filing. It is unclear if the player, who was not named, was aware of any plan or if any attempt to bet on his unders took place.

The text message was allegedly sent about two weeks after Rozier left a March 23, 2023, game between the Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans in the first quarter. Rozier allegedly agreed to a $100,000 bribe to leave the game early and benefit bettors who wagered on the under on his statistics. Fairley, a Mississippi bettor, pleaded guilty to felony charges in the case and admitted in court that he had agreed to pay an NBA player to manipulate his performance.

The government alleges in the filing that Laster messaged a different then-NBA player he knew in April 2023 and asked if they were trying to "make 100k gang." The NBA player was not named.

"It is our understanding that no other NBA player other than Terry Rozier is alleged to have engaged in any misconduct related to the gambling scheme claimed to have been perpetrated by Rozier and Deniro Laster," an NBA spokesperson told ESPN in a statement. "We continue to cooperate with the government's investigation."

David Markus, Rozier's attorney, told ESPN on Friday that they deny the new allegations "in the strongest possible way."

"Terry Rozier is innocent," Markus wrote in a court filing Thursday. "The objective evidence proves it. Unlike every other individual charged in this sweeping conspiracy, he never placed a bet on an NBA game or player prop, and he had no knowledge that anyone else was betting on his performance."

Rozier and Laster have pleaded not guilty to charges related to sports bribery, honest services, wire fraud and money laundering.

An attorney for Laster did not immediately respond to a message left by ESPN.

The government has not charged Laster or Rozier in relation to the alleged plan involving the Hornets teammate. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York declined comment.

In the filing, the government also accused Rozier of lying to the NBA during the league's investigation and failing to turn over all his phones. They asked the judge to admit into evidence that Rozier is paying for the legal defense of Laster and his siblings.

"The NBA's investigation into Rozier's conduct in connection with the March 23 Game remains open, and the NBA has not cleared Rozier," the filing states.

Friday's government filing alleges that Rozier told people close to him that the March 23 game would be his last of the season. Rozier was not on the Hornets' injury report before the game.

Rozier played just over nine minutes before coming out of the game against the Pelicans. He finished with five points, four rebounds and two assists, resulting in most of the bets winning. Rozier agreed to reduce the alleged bribe to $70,000 after the game because his four rebounds caused some of the bets to lose, according to the indictment.

Rozier and Laster are scheduled to go to trial Feb. 8 in Brooklyn.