“`html
NBA Launches Independent Examination into Allegations of Illegal Betting
The NBA has retained an independent law firm to investigate allegations of illegal betting that have led to the arrest of multiple individuals, including Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former player/coach Damon Jones. The probe, initiated after a federal indictment became public, is seeking records from players and teams across the league.
“The NBA hired an independent law firm to investigate the allegations in the indictment once they became public,” a league spokesperson confirmed to ESPN and other outlets. “As is typical in these types of investigations, various individuals and organizations were asked to preserve documents and records. All have cooperated fully.”
The investigation extends beyond Rozier and Jones, with investigators contacting several teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, according to reports from Shams Charania of ESPN. Mike Mancias, a Lakers assistant coach, and Randy Mims, the team’s executive administrator, are among a dozen team employees who have been asked to cooperate and have reportedly turned over their cell phones to investigators.
notably,Mancias,Mims,and Jones all share a long-standing relationship with LeBron James,though he has not been named in the indictment nor charged with any crime.
Federal prosecutors allege that Jones engaged in the sale of confidential injury details concerning Lakers players to bettors during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. In one instance, prosecutors claim Jones obtained details from a team coach regarding a key Lakers player’s potential limited participation in the January 15, 2024, game against the oklahoma City Thunder.
According to the indictment, Jones then relayed this information to Eric Earnest, who subsequently provided it to Marves Fairley, a known gambler. Fairley allegedly placed approximately $100,000 in bets against the Lakers. Despite the information, the Lakers won the game, and fairley reportedly requested a refund of $2,500 from jones for the inaccurate tip. Jones pleaded not guilty to charges of wire fraud and money laundering in federal court in Brooklyn last week.
Parallel to the Lakers-focused allegations, Rozier is accused of informing his childhood friend, Deniro Laster, about his intention to leave a March 23, 2023, game between the Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans during the first quarter. Rozier, then playing for the Hornets, was not listed on the team’s injury report.Prosecutors allege Laster then sold this information to Fairley and another unnamed accomplice for around $100,000.
Gamblers subsequently placed over $263,000 in wagers anticipating Rozier would score fewer points then expected. Rozier left the game after just over nine minutes, citing a foot injury. He is scheduled to appear in court in Brooklyn on December 8, with his lawyer maintaining his client’s innocence.
The unfolding scandal comes after the arrest of 34 individuals, including Rozier, Jones, and Portland trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, on October 23, stemming from two separate indictments related to illegal gambling. In response, both the House of Representatives and the Senate have sent letters to the NBA requesting information regarding the league’s policies and its relationships with betting companies.
Billups was charged in connection with alleged rigged poker games and was not directly implicated in the sports betting indictment. However, an unnamed individual with a similar career trajectory to Billups is accused of providing false information to a bettor regarding the Trail Blazers’ potential decision to bench a star player during a March 24, 2023, game against the Chicago Bulls.
The NBA’s swift response,including the engagement of an independent law firm and full cooperation from teams and personnel,signals the league’s commitment to addressing these serious allegations and safeguarding the integrity of the game. The investigation is ongoing, and further developments are expected in the coming weeks.
