Ex-NBA Star Damon Jones Pleads Guilty to Selling LeBron Injury Tips

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Damon Jones, a 49-year-old ex-NBA player and assistant coach who once shared the court with LeBron James, pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in federal court. The pleas cover separate indictments for an illegal NBA gambling operation and a sophisticated rigged poker scheme, making Jones the first of 34 defendants to fold in the October arrests that ensnared reputed mobsters and basketball insiders.[1][3] Prosecutors detailed how Jones exploited his NBA ties, obtained during his playing days and later as an unofficial Lakers assistant, to feed gamblers nonpublic injury information on stars like James and Anthony Davis. In one instance, he texted a co-conspirator on Feb. 9, 2023: "Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out," tipping that James was sidelined for the Bucks game. The betting conspiracy spanned December 2022 to March 2024, defrauding sportsbooks through repeated leaks on player health.[2][3] Jones and James were Cleveland Cavaliers teammates from 2005 to 2008, forging a connection Jones later weaponized. He admitted using "inside information I obtained as a result of my relationships from my playing career in the NBA" to profit illicitly. No evidence implicates James, who faces no charges.[1][3] In the poker case, Jones served as a paid "face card," leveraging his celebrity to draw high-rollers to rigged games in Miami and the Hamptons. Prosecutors described cheating tools including altered shuffling machines, hidden cameras, special sunglasses and X-ray table tech. For one Hamptons game, Jones pocketed $2,500 and was instructed to fold when unsure, replying via text: "Y'all know I know what I'm doing!!"[3] U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella condemned Jones for "convert[ing] his fame and ties to professional basketball into a multi-faceted criminal betting operation," cheating sportsbooks with locker-room secrets. Initially pleading not guilty to wire fraud and money laundering after his October arrest, Jones flipped before an April 30 deadline, dodging some time.[1][3] Sentencing is set for Jan. 6, 2027, before Judges LaShann DeArcy Hall and Ramon Reyes. Guidelines recommend 21-27 months for betting and 63-78 months for poker, reduced by 15 months for the early plea, potentially totaling 48-63 months if followed. Forfeiture and restitution await determination.[1][3]