The NBA world was shocked when news of a gambling scandal involving NBA personalities broke. Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, and former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Damon Jones have been arrested for alleged involvement in illegal sports betting.
The NBA has placed both Rozier and Billups on leave, and Fever star Sophie Cunningham shared a surprised reaction to a key detail about the Heat star’s situation that has newly surfaced.
What About the Terry Rozier Gambling Scandal Surprised Sophie Cunningham?
Authorities claim Rozier was involved in suspicious betting activity. A single professional bettor allegedly placed 30 bets on him within less than an hour of a 2023 game. The bettor wagered the under on Rozier’s various stats, and the guard left the game with a foot injury.
Despite the ongoing situation, RealGM has reported that Rozier will receive his full $26 million NBA salary for the 2025-26 season despite being placed on leave.
no way. please tell me this is fake… https://t.co/uqxBqDfRC6
— Sophie Cunningham (@sophaller) October 25, 2025
This did not sit well with Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham. She did not hold back on X, writing a shocked eight-word reply to the report: “No way. Please tell me this is fake…”
Salary is one of the issues WNBA players are lobbying for in their new collective bargaining agreement, and Cunningham is one of the most outspoken critics of how the league is handling players’ demands.
Cunningham’s total earnings over seven seasons in the WNBA stand at $672,780, a figure that pales in comparison to what NBA players make today. For perspective, 2025 No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg signed a four-year contract valued at $62.7 million.
In a press conference, FBI Director Kash Patel said the illegal gambling and rigging operation that involved the NBA personalities spanned the course of years, calling it “historic in its scheme.”
Rozier’s lawyer Jim Trusty rejected claims tying his client to gambling.
“We have represented Terry Rozier for over a year,” Trusty said in a statement. “A long time ago, we reached out to these prosecutors to tell them we should have an open line of communication… Terry was cleared by the NBA, and these prosecutors revived that non-case.
“Terry is not a gambler, but he is not afraid of a fight, and he looks forward to winning this fight.”
The FBI’s investigation continues and will determine Rozier’s future. The NBA world awaits an update on the situation as one of the biggest sagas of the last decade unfolds.
