Damon Jones, a former NBA player and unofficial assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, has pleaded not guilty to serious charges related to a gambling scheme. He’s accused of lining his pockets with money from rigged poker games and selling confidential player injury info to sports gamblers. PAUL JONES (CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT WIRE FRAUD AND CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MONEY LAUNDERING CHARGES)
The federal investigation revealed a sprawling network of illegal gambling operations, of which Jones was a part. Prosecutors allege that he sold or attempted to sell non-public information about injuries to star players LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Russell Jones dropped a major hint on James’ injury return status. This news broke right before the Wizards played the Milwaukee Bucks on February 9, 2023. He sent a text to one unnamed co-conspirator. In that letter, he implored them to place a big wager on Milwaukee before the story was publicly released.
James has been unable to play due to a lingering lower body injury. His absence was definitely felt, as he played a major role in the Lakers’ 115-106 loss. After the stunning victory, Jones reached out to his friends, proclaiming that “y’all know I know what I’m doing!!” This bold prediction indicates a fair amount of faith in his backstage knowledge, even with the eventual Lakers gamble backfiring.
Jones counseled sports bettor Marves Fairley, who has pleaded not guilty. Fairley allegedly paid Jones approximately $2,500 for one tip. This tip predicted Anthony Davis would play little against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to an injury. Fortunately, Davis easily exceeded those expectations after playing the full 32 minutes. He scored 27 points and had 15 rebounds, which helped the Lakers win against the Rockets, 112 to 105. Following the event, Fairley requested a refund of his $2,500 honorarium. He notably stressed the danger bettors undergo when they base their decisions on possibly inaccurate intel.
Beyond these accusations, Jones was purportedly paid to take part in fixed poker matches. At a recent event in the Hamptons, he was told to cut corners. Federal authorities later revealed that Jones and other former NBA players used their clout to recruit gullible players into these contests. Every invasion used sophisticated tactics to achieve superiority. They employed modified ballot shuffling machines, infrared cameras, modified sunglasses and X-ray technology integrated directly into the poker tables.
Jones’ success as a basketball player from 1999-2009 was nothing short of stellar. 2nd round – 6/30/03 He made more than $20 million playing with 10 different NBA franchises. He was LeBron James’ right-hand man in Cleveland from 2005-08. Most recently, he moved into an assistant coaching role with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2022-2023 season.
Damon Jones has a preliminary conference with other defendants Nov. 24 that he will likely appear for in court. The trial is moving forward as scheduled. These charges may change Jones’ life forever. They undermine the integrity of professional sports and gambling practices.
