LeBron James and Damon Jones knew each other (Image via Getty Images)
According to The Athletic, LeBron James, star of the Los Angeles Lakers, has been mentioned in FBI investigations into high-stakes poker games and illicit betting. It allegedly involves the Lucchese, Bonanno, Gambino, and Genovese mafia organizations.Although he wasn’t a player, Damon Jones, who knew James, participated in card games in front of the Los Angeles Lakers. Even though Jones wasn’t a coach, he would fire passes to LeBron James inside the arena hours before tip-off while wearing the team’s uniform. He was back in the locker room and on the Lakers team bus, but he wasn’t in the coaches’ meetings.
Damon Jones’ actions bring fresh federal attention to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers
According to league insiders, the Los Angeles Lakers organization and important associates of superstar LeBron James are in the public eye due to the NBA’s expanding investigation into illicit sports gambling.
The investigation is centered on the federal indictment of a former player and close James confidant, even though James himself is not charged with any crimes.Federal charges against former NBA player and coach Damon Jones were filed last month, which sparked the current internal NBA probe. Jones, a long-time friend and former teammate of James, is charged with providing private player injury information, including a tip regarding James’ unexpected absence before a 2023 Lakers game, to an illicit betting ring.
From 1999 to 2009, Jones was an NBA player who made over $20 million while playing for ten teams over the course of eleven seasons. From 2005 to 2008, Jones and James were teammates in Cleveland. In 2022–2023, Jones worked as an unofficial assistant coach for James’ Los Angeles Lakers.
Investigators have asked at least ten Lakers employees for information because of Jones’ connection to the team, which was made possible in large part by his long-standing friendship with James.However, Jones, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were all arrested last month as a result of the federal gambling investigation involving the star player’s friend. A source close to James told The Athletic that he was not aware that someone he thought of as a friend was giving gamblers information about him and the Lakers. Another source close to James described it as “unfortunate” that Jones reportedly traded on the access James granted him. Meanwhile, Jones hasn’t said anything as of yet about the whole thing. Also read: When is LeBron James coming back? NBA legend’s steady resurgence sparks hope as the Los Angeles Lakers await a powerful comeback