Damon Jones, Not Chauncey Billups, Is ‘nba’s Biggest Liability’ In Gambling Scandal

Two days, that’s really agelong nan NBA had to observe nan return of its play earlier this thick, acheronian unreality came to a screeching halt supra it. Two days, for nan convention to beryllium awash successful nan glow of a thrilling double-overtime opener—in NBC’s return to NBA broadcasting, nary less—and superlative-worthy performances from Victor Wembanyama, Luka Dončić and others. Two days, earlier nan top threat to nan league’s health, nan integrity of its games, reemerged to tarnish it. 

On Thursday, a group of federal, authorities and section officials gathered successful New York to reveal specifications of sprawling, yearslong investigations into nationwide forbidden gambling operations. The 2 target groups: six defendants, including Heat defender Terry Rozier, allegedly progressive successful what a charismatic describes arsenic “one of nan astir brazen sports corruption schemes” and different 31 defendants, including Trail Blazers caput coach Chauncey Billups, accused of rigging forbidden poker games. 

Said FBI head Kash Patel, “This is nan insider trading saga for nan NBA.”

Yeesh. It has been 18 months since the betting ungraded involving Jontay Porter rocked nan league. The NBA acted swiftly backmost then, banning Porter for life wrong weeks of reports surfacing of an soul investigation. The fallout from this ungraded figures to past longer. And nan blast radius could beryllium a batch wider. 

Details from nan 23-page indictment are compelling. In 2023, Rozier, while pinch nan Hornets, allegedly informed a co-defendant and puerility friend, Deniro Laster, of his plans to clone an wounded during a crippled against nan Pelicans. According to prosecutors, Laster shared nan accusation pinch others who proceeded to spot a bid of wagers, immoderate successful nan six figures, connected nan unders of Rozier’s betting lines. Rozier played less than 10 minutes. Everyone who stake his unders made money. 

Heat defender Terry Rozier allegedly informed a co-defendant of his plans to clone an wounded successful 2023. / Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images

Billups, who prosecutors person zeroed successful connected for his relationship to Mafia-run poker games, is allegedly ensnared successful nan gambling ring, too. The indictment refers to “Co-Conspirator 8,” an Oregon resident (where Billups lives) and an NBA subordinate from 1997 to 2014 (the nonstop years Billups played) who has coached since 2021 (you get it). Before a March 24, 2023, game, Billups allegedly told a defendant, Eric Earnest, that nan tanking Blazers would beryllium sitting its stars. Earnest relayed that accusation to different defendants, who cashed in. 

Billups and Rozier person some been placed connected contiguous leave, nan NBA said. 

Yet Jones’s beingness successful nan indictment is surely causing nan astir interest successful Olympic Tower. Jones’s NBA playing profession ended successful 2009. He spent respective years arsenic an adjunct successful Cleveland earlier moving connected from coaching, too. But he was very popular during his playing days—Jones played for 10 NBA teams—with a ample postulation of high-profile friends. Including LeBron James. 

In nan indictment, Jones is identified arsenic an unofficial adjunct coach for nan Lakers during nan 2022–23 season. Also named is “Player 3,” a teammate of Jones (which James was) who would later coach him (ditto). On Jan. 9, 2023, Jones claimed successful matter messages to associates that Player 3 would beryllium retired nan crippled against Milwaukee. “Get a large stake connected Milwaukee coming earlier nan accusation is out,” Jones texted. James did not play that night. The Bucks won nan game. 

No 1 has suggested James knew thing astir forbidden bets, and it would beryllium astonishing if he did. But James is conscionable 1 subordinate successful Jones’s extended integer Rolodex; indeed, nan indictment claims that Jones utilized his narration pinch nan Lakers and NBA unit to entree non-public information. Some wrong nan convention walls spot nan Rozier and Billups situations arsenic containable, moreover viewing nan indictments arsenic a deterrent for years to come. Jones’s involvement, though, could origin nan fallout to linger. And spread. 

“DJ,” texted a high-ranking squad exec, “is nan NBA’s biggest liability correct now.”

The NBA says it is cooperating pinch applicable authorities, and this investigation appears acold from over. One by 1 officials stepped to nan podium Thursday for a triumph thigh complete nan criminal elite. “Your winning streak is over,” declared interim U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. This is conscionable nan “tip of nan iceberg,” said Christopher Rhea, nan adjunct head successful complaint of nan FBI’s New York section office. Charges revenge see robbery, extortion, money laundering, ligament fraud, slope fraud and forbidden gambling. 

“What are nan implications of this lawsuit for different sports leagues and for nan ineligible gambling manufacture successful general, simple,” Patel said. “If you’re participating successful nan ineligible gambling industry, you sewage thing to interest about. If you’re participating successful forbidden conduct, you sewage everything to interest about.”

The NBA had hoped it had put these issues down it, that Porter’s expulsion would scare would-be gamblers straight. Prop bets are nan scourge of sports leagues, nan benignant of action pro-gambling convention officials ne'er envisioned becoming this benignant of problem. For years Silver has worked to get prop bets removed from sportsbooks, pinch small success. First Porter, now Rozier and nan NBA tin only wonderment who is next.  

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