Former NBA journeyman Damon Jones was among the 34 people arrested by the FBI on Thursday morning in connection with its investigation into illegal gambling.
Jones is accused of revealing insider information on players' injury status for the purpose of placing a bet on a game where the player's team is involved. According to the federal indictment, one particular instance that happened was on February 9, 2023, when the Los Angeles Lakers hosted the Milwaukee Bucks at Crypto.com Arena.
At that time, Jones was a volunteer member of the Lakers' coaching staff at the behest of former head coach Darvin Ham. Before that particular game, Jones reportedly texted one of his co-conspirators to place a bet on the Bucks because LeBron James would not be playing that night, although he was available.
"Get a big bet on Milwaukee," said Jones, per the indictment. "Bet enough so DJones can eat to (sic) now."
James had just broken Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's scoring record in the Lakers' previous game, played two days earlier. LeBron was dressed and active for the game. However, as Jones texted, he did not play a single minute to rest his sore left ankle.
The Lakers entered the game as +7.5 point underdogs to the Bucks, meaning Milwaukee needed to win the game by at least 8 points to win a spread bet on the Bucks. With LeBron sitting out the game, the Lakers went on to lose 115-106, hence the bettor whom Jones informed would have won big if he had listened to Jones' advice.
Jones was reportedly paid thousands of dollars for non-public information like that one on February 9, 2023 and the scheme took place from the 2022-23 to 2023-24 NBA seasons.
But not all of Jones' tips ended in a win.
A year later, in a game against the Thunder, Jones reportedly sold information that LeBron or Anthony Davis wouldn't be playing. But both ended up playing and the Lakers won. The bettors asked Jones to refund the $2,500 information fee he charged them.
Like Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups , Jones is also charged in a second case. According to FBI director Kash Patel, Billups and Jones were among the known personalities who were used as "face cards" by a syndicate that rigged poker games using wireless cheating technology.
"Among these face cards were Chauncey Billups, a former NBA player and currently the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and Damon Jones, also a former NBA player and coach," Patel said during Thursday's press conference. "What the victims, or 'fish,' did not realize was that everyone else at the poker game, from the dealer to the other players, including the face cards, was complicit in the scam."
Jones was an 11-year NBA veteran who played for a total of 10 teams during his career in the association. He was LeBron James ' teammate in Cleveland from 2005 to 2008 and was an assistant coach on the Cavaliers from 2016 to 2018.
He made a total of $21.7 million during his NBA career, but during his arraignment, he asked for a public lawyer because he said he could not afford one.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
