Rusty Weiss
Nearly six months after pleading not guilty, former NBA player and coach Damon Jones is poised to become the first defendant to flip in a sprawling federal gambling investigation that has shaken fans’ trust in the league.
A change-of-plea hearing for Jones in the sports betting case is scheduled for April 28 in Brooklyn federal court, according to a court filing Thursday. Prosecutors must file details on the exact charges he will admit to by the end of next week.
In short, things are about to heat up. His attorney has confirmed the shift but emphasized that Jones is not cooperating with authorities. Which is an odd admission.
Jones initially pleaded not guilty in November 2025 to charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering in connection with an alleged scheme to provide sports bettors with non-public injury and availability information on NBA stars — most notably LeBron James and Anthony Davis — while he had privileged access to the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2022-23 season.
Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones is expected to become the first person to plead guilty in a gambling sweep that led to the arrests of more than 30 people, including reputed mobsters and other basketball figures. https://t.co/Z2zY5QCuZm
— ESPN (@espn) April 16, 2026
Interestingly, Jones’ change of plea comes just a few months after the league launched an independent investigation in which officials requested cell phones and documents from multiple teams. Among those receiving requests were Lakers staffers Mike Mancias (LeBron James’s longtime assistant trainer) and Randy Mims (executive administrator and another James associate), who voluntarily surrendered their phones and records.
It’s important to note that James is not considered involved in any way. Mancias and Mims were reportedly under scrutiny for their relationship with Jones.
Jones allegedly sent a text message to a co-conspirator ahead of a Lakers-Bucks game in Milwaukee on February 9th, 2023. At the time, James was not yet listed on the official injury report.
“Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out,” he allegedly wrote.
James ultimately sat out the contest with a lower-body injury, and the Lakers lost 115-106.
Jones is also alleged to have been paid $2,500 for a tip on Davis in January of 2024, suggesting the Lakers star would have limited playing time against the Oklahoma City Thunder because of an injury. The tip didn’t pan out, Davis played normal minutes and was rather effective in leading Los Angeles to a 112-105 win. The sports bettor who paid Jones for the tip and then placed a $100,000 wager on the Lakers was not pleased.
From LeBron’s Trusted Shooting Partner to Federal Guilty Plea: The Shocking Fall of Damon Jones
Jones and James share a history that stretches back to the mid-2000s, according to ESPN NBA Insider Brian Windhorst. They were teammates on the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2005 to 2008. After Jones’ playing career ended, the two maintained an off-and-on friendship. Jones later worked informally as a shooting consultant for James, including during the Cavs’ 2016 championship run under Tyronn Lue.
That bond granted Jones unusual access years later with the Lakers. The fact that he may have betrayed the team that trusted him and the friendship with LeBron to sell insider betting tips is astonishing.
James and Jones had already been out of contact by the time the charges were filed, following a reported falling-out.
Jones faces a separate but related indictment involving alleged participation in Mafia-linked, rigged poker games that defrauded high-rollers out of millions. Yes, that’s correct. The mafia had its hooks into NBA players—allegedly. He pleaded not guilty to those charges in November as well.
The wider probe, which led to more than 30 arrests, has also ensnared figures like Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups.
Jones’ expected guilty plea marks a significant development in the case. He would be the first in this high-profile gambling scandal to admit guilt, potentially opening the door for sentencing negotiations for the other players mentioned.
