Breaking: Former NBA Player Damon Jones Arrested Over LeBron James Injury Leak, Part of Massive Gambling Probe
In a shocking development that has rocked the NBA community, former 11-year league player Damon Jones was arrested Thursday on allegations that he disclosed sensitive injury information about a “prominent” basketball player to aid illegal sports betting, authorities confirmed. Sources close to LeBron James have identified the superstar as the player in question.
While James is not accused of any wrongdoing, the revelation has sent shockwaves across the league and betting world. Jones, previously an unofficial, unpaid member of former Lakers coach Darvin Ham’s staff, reportedly had close access to James during the star’s offseason workouts in 2022.
The arrests, part of a sprawling investigation involving nearly a dozen states and tens of millions of dollars, also ensnared Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, FBI Director Kash Patel said. In total, 34 individuals have been taken into custody in what authorities describe as a multi-year probe into illegal gambling and rigged poker operations linked to organized crime.
According to the federal indictment, Jones allegedly sent a text to a co-conspirator before a Lakers-Bucks matchup on February 9, 2023, instructing them to “get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight” because James would be sidelined. James, who had just surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer two days prior, ultimately missed three consecutive games due to soreness in his left ankle. Jones’s message reportedly added: “Bet enough so Djones can eat [too] now!!!” Without the superstar, the Lakers fell 115-106 to the Bucks.
The indictment also claims that Jones provided nonpublic information the following season for a Lakers-Thunder game on January 15, 2024, highlighting a pattern of alleged insider tipping. James, according to sources, had no knowledge of Jones’s involvement in gambling activities while he was around the Lakers during the 2022-23 season.
The Lakers have declined to comment on the allegations. Speaking after practice, current head coach JJ Redick emphasized the team’s ongoing adherence to the league’s anti-gambling rules. “We’ve had two meetings on it already,” Redick said. “It’s obviously on the front of everyone’s awareness given the last two years, but other than that, there’s no other comment.”
This unprecedented scandal underscores the growing tension between professional sports and the explosive sports-betting industry, with legal and ethical ramifications reverberating far beyond the court. As authorities continue their investigation, the NBA and its fans are left grappling with a stunning reminder: even icons like LeBron are not immune from the shadowy world of illegal gambling.
With the fallout still unfolding, all eyes remain on the league, the implicated individuals, and how this sprawling case could reshape the NBA’s approach to insider information, gambling regulations, and player protections moving forward.
Leave a Reply