Poker Writer
Recent scandals have led the NBA to intensify its investigations into illegal gambling and game integrity under pressure from Congress, with the LA Lakers reported to be the team getting the closest look at the moment. Lawmakers have reacted strongly to high-profile indictments in October and a string of separate incidents that followed. The NBA is now reviewing all avenues of information to try to prevent the scandal from snowballing further.
The massive scandal involving Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier drew attention to the connections between illegal sports betting, the mob, underground poker, and major league sports. The NBA was at the center of the October indictments and is now looking to root out any future issues. Congress has pressed the league on why it was unable to uncover any evidence on Billups or Rozier sooner.
The NBA hired the outside law firm of Watchell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to start looking at individual teams.
In particular, the firm has targeted the Lakers for a thorough investigation. The investigators in the firm have requested documents and cell phone records for at least ten Lakers employees. This comes following the charges filed against former LeBron James shooting coach Damon Jones, which put the LA team into the spotlight.
An NBA spokesman explained the investigations to The Athletic:
The NBA engaged an independent law firm to investigate the allegations in the indictment once it was made public.As is standard in these kinds of investigations, a number of different individuals and organizations were asked to preserve documents and records. Everyone has been fully cooperative.
Charges Against Damon Jones
Jones was one of more than 30 people arrested in the October gambling sweep that included Billups and Rozier. Jones was charged with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
The 49-year-old allegedly provided sports bettors with nonpublic information about injuries to key players on the Lakers, who may have included LeBron James and Anthony Davis, though the FBI indictment refers to players anonymously.
Jones was not an officially credentialed member of the Lakers but still had access to many players and was around the team often. He was reportedly a popular figure in the locker room and on good terms with the members of the team. There were even reports that Jones was part of team card games.
Investigation of the Orlando Magic
The NBA is reportedly investigating several other teams beyond the Lakers, including the Portland Trail Blazers, for whom Billups remains the coach at present. The Charlotte Hornets and Toronto Raptors had also been mentioned in relation to the October investigation.
One specific additional team newly mentioned in the latest reports is the Orlando Magic. The Magic investigation centers around a ‘regular starting player’ telling a gambler that the Magic planned to tank a game in April 2023 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
