The National Basketball Association finds itself at the heart of a scandal that’s shaking the very foundation of professional sports. Federal indictments unsealed this week reveal a sweeping sports gambling and wire fraud probe, ensnaring former NBA player and coach Damon Jones, current Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups. At the core of the controversy: the alleged leaking of confidential player injury information—most notably concerning superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis—to illicit betting syndicates, all without the players’ knowledge.
According to documents released by the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, Damon Jones, a veteran of 11 NBA seasons and former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach, is accused of providing non-public injury updates to co-conspirators who then placed sizable wagers on NBA games. The most damning incident occurred on February 9, 2023, before a Los Angeles Lakers matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. Jones, who was serving as an unofficial assistant coach for the Lakers at the time, allegedly texted a co-defendant: "Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out! [Player 3] is out tonight. Bet enough so Djones can eat ... now!"
The player in question, later identified as LeBron James, was not listed on the official injury report at the time. However, James ultimately missed the game due to an ankle injury, and the Lakers fell to the Bucks 115-106. The prosecution asserts that this inside tip allowed those in the know to profit handsomely before the news became public. Notably, LeBron James had no knowledge that his injury status was being shared for betting purposes—a fact corroborated by multiple sources close to the situation.
But the revelations didn’t stop there. The indictment further alleges that Damon Jones leaked confidential information about Anthony Davis, then a Lakers star, ahead of a January 15, 2024 game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Jones reportedly told associates that Davis—referred to as Player 4 in the charging documents—was "probable" for the game but would play limited minutes due to injury. This tip prompted a co-conspirator to place a whopping $100,000 bet against the Lakers. In a twist, Davis played his usual minutes and performed strongly, leading the Lakers to victory. The bettor, out of pocket, demanded Jones repay the $2,500 fee he’d been paid for the tip.
Neither James nor Davis is accused of any wrongdoing. In fact, the grand jury indictment makes it clear that the players were unaware their private medical statuses were being weaponized in the betting underworld. The scheme’s exposure has prompted swift action across the NBA landscape.
The investigation, spearheaded by the FBI, has also implicated Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier. Rozier, who was averaging nearly 21 points per game for the Charlotte Hornets late in the 2022-23 season, allegedly conspired with a friend, Deniro “Niro” Laster, to fake an injury during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans. According to the indictment, Rozier informed Laster that he would "prematurely remove himself from the game in the first quarter due to a supposed injury and not return." Bettors with this inside knowledge placed over $250,000 in prop bets on Rozier’s under, reaping significant rewards when he exited after scoring just five points. A week later, Laster and Rozier reportedly "counted the money" at Rozier’s home in Charlotte.
The NBA has responded with urgency. Just two days into the 2025–26 season, the league placed both Rozier and Billups on immediate leave from their respective teams. In a statement, the NBA emphasized, “We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority.” The league confirmed it is actively reviewing the indictments and will determine further disciplinary measures as the legal process unfolds.
Chauncey Billups’ involvement, according to the indictment, centers on his attendance at illegal poker games in New York, Florida, and Nevada—events allegedly orchestrated by members of New York Mafia families. Both Jones and Billups were reportedly paid to participate, with Jones requesting an initial $2,500 payment before attending. The poker games themselves were far from above board: prosecutors allege the use of rigged shuffling machines and X-ray tables to cheat players out of money. Billups’ activities, it should be noted, are not related to any games he coached.
The scope of the FBI’s probe is vast, encompassing over 30 individuals, including four others named in the Department of Justice’s indictment: Eric Earnest, Marves Fairley, Shane Hennen, and Deniro Laster. The investigation also led to the lifetime NBA ban of Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter, who was found to have leaked confidential information, limited his playing time for betting purposes, and placed bets on NBA games himself.
Prop bets—wagers on individual player statistics rather than game outcomes—have become a focal point of the scandal. The indictment details how inside locker room information, such as player injuries or planned absences, was exploited to manipulate these bets. The Rozier incident is a prime example: with knowledge of his planned early exit, conspirators placed bets on his under, while unsuspecting bettors lost money expecting him to perform at his average level.
Damon Jones’ role in the scandal is particularly noteworthy given his extensive NBA résumé. After retiring as a player in 2012, Jones transitioned to coaching, including a stint as a shooting consultant and assistant with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2016 to 2018. He also worked as an ESPN TV analyst and maintained close ties with LeBron James, both as a former teammate and as a workout partner during James’ Lakers tenure. Despite not holding an official Lakers coaching position during the 2022-23 season, Jones had access to team facilities, planes, and hotels—privileges he allegedly used to gain sensitive information.
The fallout from the scandal has sparked heated debate among fans, players, and league officials alike. The integrity of the game—a foundational principle of professional sports—is now under intense scrutiny. As the NBA continues its internal review and the legal process advances, questions linger about how deeply the tentacles of illegal gambling have penetrated the league and what safeguards must be implemented to prevent future breaches.
While the investigation is ongoing and no verdicts have been rendered, the NBA’s swift action signals a zero-tolerance approach to any activity that threatens the sport’s credibility. For now, the league, its players, and its fans are left to grapple with the shocking reality that even the highest echelons of basketball are not immune to the temptations and pitfalls of the gambling world.
