According to an indictment obtained by The New York Times, Jones and his co-conspirators allegedly engaged in a scheme to defraud betting companies by using and distributing non-public information about NBA games to place fraudulent wagers and launder the proceeds. The Department of Justice identified two Los Angeles Lakers games on February 9, 2023, and January 15, 2024, as key events. The indictment alleges Jones sold injury status updates regarding prominent Lakers players—believed to be LeBron James and Anthony Davis—to bettors. For example, prior to the Lakers’ matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks on February 9, 2023, Jones reportedly urged associates to place large bets on Milwaukee, stating, “[LeBron] is out tonight.” James, not listed as injured at the time, sat out due to ankle soreness, and the Lakers lost 115-106.
A year later, ahead of a game versus the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jones allegedly relayed information from a trainer about Davis’s ankle injury, for which he was paid $2,500. Despite Davis playing and posting 27 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists in a Lakers win, the incident underscored the value placed on insider information. The indictment notes that James was unaware Jones was selling details about his health.
Jones averaged 6.6 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game during his NBA career, earning over $21 million. He has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. described the case as “one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalized in the United States.”
For more details on Damon Jones’s playing history and statistics, see his Basketball Reference profile and the ESPN player page.