LeBron James has been linked to the NBA‘s federal gambling investigation. This comes after his former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate, Damon Jones, was accused of sharing confidential information about James’ game status for profit. While Jones has been arrested, new details have emerged about those involved and the evidence from a leaked message.
LeBron James’ injury text from gambling scandal revealed in new report
Heavy Sports reviewed a federal indictment that detailed how Jones gave confidential information to one of his associates during a 2023 Lakers game. He allegedly revealed details on James’ injury, asking the associate to put his bet on the opposing team. The latest court documents highlight that Jones sent a message to one of the co-conspirators about James’ injury before the news was formally released. This information was given before the Lakers vs. Milwaukee Bucks match started.
The message read, “Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out! [Player 3] is out tonight. Bet enough so Djones can eat too now!!!” Here, the “Player 3” that Jones was referring to was James. In fact, the Los Angeles Lakers did lose the game against the Bucks by 115–106. Jones was accused of leaking insider information to an outsider for personal benefit while not being an official part of the team. Another league source informed The Athletic that James wasn’t aware of Jones’s actions. Now, Jones, along with Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, has been arrested.
NBA Communications recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to address the gambling scandal and recent arrests. The statement read, “We are in the process of reviewing the federal indictments announced today. Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups are being placed on immediate leave from their teams, and we will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities. We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority.”
