NBA gambling scandal sees first guilty plea after former Lakers assistant's change of plans
Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for sharing nonpublic injury information about NBA players, including details on LeBron James, to benefit gamblers. Jones, who initially pleaded not guilty, became the first figure in the ongoing NBA gambling scandal to admit guilt. He admitted to using insider knowledge from his role with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2022–2024 period to influence sports betting outcomes. Jones is scheduled to be sentenced in January 2027 and has agreed to forfeit $35,000.
- ▪Damon Jones pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering for sharing insider information about NBA player injuries before they were public.
- ▪He disclosed that a prominent Lakers player, widely believed to be LeBron James, would not play on February 9, 2023, due to injury, before the team made it official.
- ▪Jones also allegedly shared insider information about another top Lakers player, speculated to be Anthony Davis, 11 months later, though the bet failed when the player performed well.
- ▪The conspiracy spanned from December 2022 to March 2024, violating both NBA conduct rules and sportsbook terms of service.
- ▪Jones is set to be sentenced on January 6, 2027, with sentencing guidelines recommending 21–27 months in prison and a $35,000 forfeiture.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Sports Gambling NBA gambling scandal sees first guilty plea after former Lakers assistant's change of plans Damon Jones gave inside info about what's suspected to be about LeBron James By Ryan Morik Fox News Published April 28, 2026 12:41pm EDT Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google close Video NBA star Kevin Love discusses 'stain' of gambling in pro sports Longtime NBA veteran Kevin Love talked to Fox News Digital about the "stain" of gambling in professional sports and hopes for a resolution. NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! After initially maintaining his innocence, NBA champion Damon Jones has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after giving insider information before it was made public to benefit gamblers.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Fox News.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from Fox News
