A stunning new federal indictment has rocked the NBA, with former player and assistant coach Damon Jones accused of leaking confidential injury information about LeBron James and Anthony Davis to sports gamblers.
According to court documents unsealed Thursday in the Eastern District of New York, Jones is one of six individuals charged in connection with “Operation Nothing But Bet,” a sweeping federal investigation into illegal sports gambling.
Prosecutors allege that Jones used his inside access as a former NBA coach to pass along nonpublic details about Lakers players’ health and availability to conspirators who then placed strategic bets based on that information.
The indictment claims the group worked together to defraud betting companies by exploiting insider knowledge — a violation that could carry severe federal penalties.
Neither the NBA nor the Los Angeles Lakers have commented publicly on the indictment, but league officials are reportedly cooperating with investigators as the scandal unfolds.
Jones, who played in the NBA for over a decade before joining various coaching staffs, has not yet entered a plea. If convicted, he could face years in federal prison and permanent expulsion from all NBA-related activities.
The case adds to growing concerns about the intersection of sports betting and insider access, particularly as gambling becomes increasingly integrated into mainstream sports culture.
Federal authorities say the investigation is still ongoing — and more names could be added before it’s over.
