NBA gambling case: Is LeBron James named in the controversy? | More sports News
An indictment unsealed in New York on Thursday revealed that at least one fraudulent bet may have been placed using inside information connected to NBA star LeBron James, though James himself has not been accused of any wrongdoing. The case, titled “Nothing but bet,” involves Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA player and coach Damon Jones, both charged with selling confidential details about games and players to gamblers. Prosecutors allege that these disclosures allowed individuals to place bets before official information became public. According to the indictment, Jones used his connections with an unnamed “Player 3,” as well as with the Los Angeles Lakers and other league personnel, to pass along medical details to his co-conspirators. The document describes Player 3 as a “prominent NBA player,” noting that Jones was both a former teammate and coach of the player. Jones and LeBron James played together for the Cleveland Cavaliers between 2005 and 2008, building a close relationship during that period. Jones later served as an assistant coach and personal shooting instructor for James during the player’s second stint with Cleveland from 2016 to 2018, before James joined the Los Angeles Lakers. A spokesperson for James declined to comment on the matter. The indictment cites an exchange from the morning of February 9, 2023, in which Jones allegedly texted a co-conspirator saying, “Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out!” The message followed his claim that Player 3 would not play for the Lakers against the Milwaukee Bucks that evening.
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Do you believe that LeBron James was aware of the information surrounding the fraudulent bets?
Official league records confirm that James sat out that game due to a sore left ankle, just two days after setting the NBA’s all-time career scoring record. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not linked James to any illegal activity in the case.
