NEW YORK (AFP) — Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier pleaded not guilty Monday to criminal charges related to an illegal gambling probe that rocked the American basketball world.

Rozier, 31, was arrested in October over the alleged betting scheme that prosecutors say provided inside information on injuries and game absences to bettors between December 2022 and March 2024.

In one apparent instance, he advised co-conspirators that he would leave a game early with a supposed injury when he was with the Charlotte Hornets, allowing them to make bets accordingly.

Appearing in court in New York wearing a white shirt and gray suit, Rozier denied the charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.

Co-defendant Deniro Laster, a childhood friend of Rozier who allegedly profited from the scheme, pleaded not guilty to the same charges.

Rozier was released on a $3 million bond secured by his home in Florida and another property. Laster was also released on bail. Their travel in the United States is now limited.

Rozier was part of an illegal gambling probe that last year led to the lifetime ban of former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) said in January it found no evidence Rozier violated league rules but were cooperating with an ongoing federal investigation.

Rozier has been placed on administrative leave by the NBA since his arrest.

Another major figure in US basketball, Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, was also arrested in October over a separate fraud case.

Prosecutors say the 49-year-old was one of more than 30 people indicted for alleged involvement in a nationwide scheme to rig illegal poker games.

Billups, a former Detroit Pistons star and an NBA Hall of Famer, has denied the accusations.

Meanwhile, Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane was fined $35,000 by the NBA for throwing the game ball with force at Britain’s O.G. Anunoby of New York in an unsportsmanlike manner.

The incident took place with 6:13 remaining in the fourth quarter of Orlando’s 106-100 loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

Bane was whistled for a technical foul on the play, in which he hurled the ball at a sprawled Anunoby while the Knicks forward was on the court beyond the end line under the basket.

Anunoby drove to the hoop and was knocked over by two of Bane’s teammates and all three fell to the court.

Bane grabbed the loose ball and hurled it into the left side of Anunoby while he was on the court.

Last month, Bane was ejected from a game after a flagrant foul and technical foul over an incident in which he knocked Atlanta’s Onyeka Okongwu down and hurled the ball off his head.

Bane is averaging 18.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists a game for Orlando this season.

The Magic are 14-10 this season, fifth in the Eastern Conference.