Update on NBA gambling investigation: Lakers among several teams asked to turn over phones

In the wake of federal indictments and arrests in two illegal gambling probes — including Hall of Famer and Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, as well as former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones — the NBA investigation into those charges moves forward as well, according to a new report.

That report also suggests the NBA could soon tighten its injury reporting restrictions, which theoretically could have prevented instances of inside information on injuries being sold to gamblers, leading to the federal charges.

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Congress members have asked the NBA why it had previously investigated Terry Rozier (another player arrested and charged by federal prosecutors) and not found any evidence of this alleged gambling. The NBA has responded by expanding its investigation. It had previously hired the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to handle the investigation, and the firm has now reached out to multiple NBA teams, including the Lakers, asking for their phones, according to Joe Vardon, Mike Vorunov and Sam Amick of The Athletic.

As a result of the charges filed against Damon Jones, a former NBA player and LeBron James’ former shooting coach who had special access to the Lakers, Wachtell investigators are expected to seek documents, including cell phones and phone records, from at least 10 Lakers employees, league sources told The Athletic. Per league sources, Lakers assistant trainer Mike Mancias and executive administrator Randy Mims are among the employees who are already cooperating and who voluntarily handed their cell phones over to investigators. Both Mancias and Mims are employed by the Lakers because of their ties to James.

To be clear, LeBron, Mancias, and Mims are not charged with any crimes nor have they been mentioned in the federal investigation, the questions are more about what they might have known about Jones and his actions (Jones was arrested in part for allegedly selling inside information about LeBron’s health and status to gamblers). Mancias is LeBron’s personal trainer and has been for decades, Mims has been close to LeBron his entire career.

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/nba-gambling-investigation-lakers-among-194214446.html

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Publish date : 2025-11-16 19:42:00

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