The NBA has asked multiple teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, to hand over documents and property as part of its investigation into illegal sports gambling, according to six league sources. The league is seeking information related to federal charges brought by the Department of Justice last month.
Congressional committees questioned why the NBA did not uncover evidence that players and coaches participated in schemes to use private information to help bettors. The scrutiny followed arrests of Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups last month.
The NBA engaged outside law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to investigate the allegations. Investigators are expected to seek documents from at least 10 Lakers employees, including cell phones and phone records, according to league sources.
Lakers assistant trainer Mike Mancias and executive administrator Randy Mims are among employees already cooperating with investigators. Both voluntarily handed over their cell phones and are employed by the Lakers due to their ties to LeBron James.
The investigation focuses on Damon Jones, a former NBA player and James’ former shooting coach with special access to the Lakers. Jones was arrested last month and accused of selling private injury information about two star Lakers players to gamblers.
“The NBA engaged an independent law firm to investigate the allegations in the indictment once it was made public,” an NBA spokesman said. “As is standard in these kinds of investigations, a number of different individuals and organizations were asked to preserve documents and records. Everyone has been fully cooperative.”
Prosecutors allege Jones used information disclosed by a team trainer on at least one occasion. Jones pleaded not guilty at a Brooklyn federal courthouse earlier this month.
The government alleges Jones sold injury information on two Lakers stars to bettors on multiple occasions. On Feb. 9, 2023, Jones allegedly learned a prominent player would miss that night’s game against the Bucks and told a co-conspirator to place a large bet. James did not play in that game.
On Jan. 15, 2024, Jones allegedly sold information that another player was injured and would be limited against Oklahoma City. Prosecutors claim Jones learned the information from the trainer for both players.
The federal charges also reference the Orlando Magic. According to prosecutors, a regularly starting Magic player told a gambler the team planned to sit its starters in an April 2023 game against Cleveland. The gambler allegedly sold the information to other bettors to place bets against the Magic.
The Magic have not been contacted by the Department of Justice, according to a league source. The unnamed player mentioned in the indictment is no longer with the organization.
James, Mancias and Mims have not been charged or mentioned in federal documents.