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An arbitrator ruled in favor of Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier in a salary dispute with the NBA that stemmed from his FBI arrest in connection with a gambling investigation in October 2025, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to ESPN on Monday (February 2).
Rozier's salary had been held in escrow since December but will now be released after an arbitrator found players cannot be put on unpaid leave with the exception of domestic abuse or child abuse cases in adherence with the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, sources confirmed to ESPN.
"Terry won today under principles of contract law and the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and the players, but the bigger principle at issue is the presumption of innocence," said Jim Trusty, Rozier's attorney, in a statement obtained by ESPN. "Today's arbitration ruling reminds the NBA that they can't ignore that important concept just because it's a high-profile case."
The Heat and the NBA previously agreed to put Rozier's salary for the 2025-26 season in escrow after he was arrested in connection with a federal gambling investigation in October that also resulted in Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups' arrest among others. The National Basketball Players Association appealed the escrow agreement between the Heat and league, which was worth approximately $26.6 million.
"We are pleased with the arbitrator's ruling and remain committed to ensuring Terry's due process rights are protected and that he is afforded the presumption of innocence throughout this process," a spokesperson for the National Basketball Players Association said in a statement to ESPN.
Rozier pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges of wire fraud and money laundering in connection with his FBI arrest with his attorneys filing a motion to dismiss the case in December, citing government overreach, with the government due to respond to the motion on Monday.