Damon Jones is alleged in a recently unsealed indictment to have shared private medical information connected to an unnamed NBA player as part of a larger "criminal betting operation," it has been revealed.
The indictment does not reveal the name of the player in question, referring to him only as "Player 3," but contextual details surrounding the Lakers games in question point to it apparently being LeBron James.
To be clear, as reported by The Athletic, an NBA source says James himself was not aware of Jones’s alleged activities. In the indictment, Jones, himself an ex-NBA player and assistant coach, is claimed to have "had access to non-public information, including medical information that had not been released to the public."
Jones is accused of having "sold or attempted to sell" such information to others, including fellow defendants Eric Earnest and Marves Fairley. The indictment, viewed by Complex, alleges this was done in an effort to cause or enable the placing of "fraudulent wagers" based on the information provided.
"For example, on or about February 9, 2023, the Lakers played the Milwaukee Bucks," reads the indictment, released Thursday (October 23). "On the morning of the February 9 Game, the defendant Damon Jones sent a text message to Co-Conspirator 9, writing: 'Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out! [Player 3] is out tonight. Bet enough so Djones can eat to [sic] now!!!' At the time Jones provided this non-public information about Player 3 to Co-Conspirator 9, Player 3 was not ruled out on the NBA's injury report for the February 9 Game. Due to a lower body injury, Player 3 did not play in the February 9 Game, which the Lakers lost."
Meanwhile, another unnamed player whose private medical information is alleged to have been used in the same fashion, identified in the indictment as "Player 4," is widely assumed to be Anthony Davis. Like James, Davis himself is not accused of being involved in the alleged scheme.
Prior to a January 2024 game between the Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, the indictment alleges, Jones "claimed to have learned from the trainer for Players 3 and 4 that Player 4 was injured and was only going to play a limited number of minutes and/or his performance would likely be affected in the game because of the injury."
Jones is accused of sharing this information with Earnest, who then allegedly texted Fairley, "Hit me asap got one for u dude say he got some info." Ultimately, Fairley allegedly paid Jones an estimated $2,500, describing it as a "fee," leading to the placement of multiple bets against the Lakers.
In one example cited in the indictment, Fairley is said to have placed a bet of approximately $100,000 against the Lakers, though Player 4, believed to be Davis, ultimately played for a period of time on par with his previous games during that season. The Lakers went on to win the game.
Also accused of wrongdoing amid two separate but related cases detailed by federal officials this week are Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier. Attorneys for both have since issued statements, with Chris Heywood, representing Billups, telling ESPN that his client "will fight these allegations" in court.
As for the NBA, a rep said in a statement to Complex on Thursday that the league was "in the process of reviewing the federal indictments," adding that "the integrity of our game remains our top priority."