FBI: NBA Insider Leaked LeBron Injury Info For Betting Scheme

Former NBA player and coach Damon Jones is accused of attempting to profit from non-public information regarding LeBron James before a Los Angeles Lakers game in 2023, according to a bombshell indictment unsealed by the Department of Justice on Thursday.

Jones, and other defendants in the case — including NBA player Terry Rozier — face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The federal investigation into the alleged illegal betting scheme also implicates four New York mafia families. United States Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said during a press conference on Thursday that gambling allegations point to “one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalized in the United States.”

Before the Lakers played the Milwaukee Bucks on February 9, 2023, Jones texted a co-conspirator to place a bet on the Bucks because he knew that the Lakers would be missing a key player, according to the indictment. The indictment referred to the Lakers player only as “Player 3,” but given the details provided and James’s absence from the February 9, 2023, game, it’s apparent that “Player 3” is James.

“By virtue of his relationship with Player 3, the Lakers and other NBA personnel, the defendant DAMON JONES had access to non-public information, including medical information that had not been released to the public,” the indictment reads. Jones was a former teammate and coach of James when the NBA star was playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Before the Lakers played the Bucks in 2023, Jones is accused of texting his inside knowledge of non-public medical information to an unnamed co-conspirator, writing, “Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out! [Player 3] is out tonight. Bet enough so Djones can eat to [sic] now!!!”

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When Jones allegedly provided that information to the co-conspirator, James had not yet been ruled out on the injury report, but he would later be sidelined due to a lower-body injury, according to the indictment. James missed the game against the Bucks due to ankle soreness, and the Bucks went on to win.

In another Lakers game a year later, Jones claimed to have learned that “Player 4” for the Lakers would likely be limited in his playing time or would not play well because of an injury, the indictment read. Jones was allegedly paid $2,500 by co-defendant Marves Fairley for the information. Fairley then placed a bet worth around $100,000 against the Lakers at a retail sportsbook, according to the indictment.

After Jones had given out the information, the NBA injury report listed “Player 4” as “probable,” but it was not publicly reported that he would potentially play a limited number of minutes. Anthony Davis was the only player listed as “probable” on the NBA’s injury report for January 15, 2024. Davis ended up playing his normal number of minutes and scored 27 points in a Lakers win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, causing Fairley to ask Jones to pay him back. Jones allegedly doubled down, arguing in text messages that the information he received was credible.