No matter how far Louisville tries to run from its past, the scandals keep coming. From escort controversies to vacated championships to FBI wiretaps, the program has enough drama for a Netflix docuseries.

Now add Terry Rozier to the list of headlines no one in Louisville wants. The former Cardinal guard was arrested Thursday for allegedly participating in an illegal sports-betting scheme rooted in insider NBA information.

He was one of 34 people arrested in a multi-year investigation into “an illegal gambling operation and sports-rigging network” that reportedly involved tens of millions of dollars and Mafia connections.

Specifically, the indictment alleges that on March 23, 2023, while playing for the Charlotte Hornets, Rozier informed associates of his plan to leave the game early citing injury. Those close to him bet over $200,000 on the “under” for his player-prop performance—and the winnings were allegedly delivered to Rozier’s home.

The NBA responded: Rozier, now a member of the Miami Heat, has been placed on immediate leave. “We are in the process of reviewing the federal indictments announced today,” the league statement read. “Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups are being placed on immediate leave from their teams … the integrity of our game remains our top priority.”

Rozier is in the final year of a four-year, $96 million contract and has earned more than $160 million over his career.

Why this matters:

• It comes at a time when the NBA is under heightened scrutiny over how legalized sports betting intersects with player and team behavior.
• The alleged scheme taps into a deeper concern: using non-public information about player availability or performance to place bets—a threat to competitive integrity.
• Even though Rozier was initially cleared by the league in 2023, federal authorities continued their investigation, and the recent arrest shows how serious this probe has become.