Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier will get paid his $26.6 million salary this year despite being arraigned on federal gambling charges and suspended from NBA play. Rozier won a legal battle over compensation which concluded today. [As ESPN reports](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47808454/sources-heat-terry-rozier-wins-salary-dispute-nba), citing sources familiar with the situation, an arbitrator ruled that, “players cannot be put on unpaid leave other than in cases of domestic abuse or child abuse”. The article also cites a response from the NBA Player’s Union:
_“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,” the National Basketball Players Association said in a statement._
Rozier is in the final year of his contract.
Rozier was suspended in the aftermath of a wave of federal indictments which included Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach Chauncey Billups. It’s worth noting that the standards (and unions) for player contracts and those of coaches are different. This ruling could, but will not necessarily, portend Billups’ compensation status. Like Rozier, Billups’ salary has been held in escrow for the season, pending the outcome of litigation.