LeBron James-NBA gambling row: Lakers issue big statement amid FBI probe; Damon Jones charged

As LeBron James was dragged into the latest NBA gambling scandal, the Los Angeles Lakers issued a statement

Updated on: Oct 24, 2025, 04:38:57 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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As LeBron James was dragged into the latest NBA gambling scandal, the Los Angeles Lakers issued a statement. This comes after the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, NBA Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Damon Jones were among 34 people who were charged in connection with schemes involving illegal sports betting and rigged poker games backed by the Mafia, authorities said on Thursday.

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the third quarter of the game against the Golden State Warriors (Getty Images via AFP)

However, out of nowhere, LeBron James' name also came up, not directly, but because of his close association with Jones. The two played together in Cleveland.

The Athletic on Thursday reported that Damon Jones allegedly used non-public information about LeBron for gambling. The publication stated that he tipped off a ‘co-conspirator’ that the NBA's all-time scoring leader would sit out a February 2023 game for the Lakers against the Milwaukee Bucks. James missed the game, only for the Bucks to win.

At the time, Jones was not working for the Lakers.

LeBron James, however, has been cleared of any wrongdoing. “A league source with knowledge of the situation told The Athletic that James was unaware that Jones shared information about his playing status,” the report said.

Lakers coach JJ Redick was quick to issue a statement after James was dragged in the scandal.

“It’s obviously at the front of everyone’s awareness, given the last two years,” Redick told reporters after practice, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

LeBron James is yet to issue a statement on the gambling scandal. Meanwhile, FBI Director Kash Patel and other law enforcement officials said the multiple charges involve four of the five leading mafia families and organized crime networks, and “mind-boggling” amounts of fraud.

Rozier’s lawyer, Jim Trusty, accused the FBI of aiming for “misplaced glory” by embarrassing the professional athlete with a perp walk, rather than allowing him to self-surrender.

(With AP inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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