Federal prosecutors have tied former Cleveland Cavaliers guard Damon Jones to a widening NBA gambling investigation that now points toward a game involving Dallas Mavericks star Anthony Davis when he was still with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jones, 49, was arrested last week in a federal betting sting that also led to the arrests of Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier. According to the indictment reviewed by Heavy Sports, Jones shared confidential player-health information with bettors in exchange for cash payments.
The ‘Player 4’ Tip That Matches Anthony Davis
Prosecutors say Jones texted a gambler before a Jan. 15, 2024 game involving the Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, warning that “Player 4,” described as one of the Lakers’ best players, was injured and expected to play limited minutes.
The indictment does not identify Player 4 by name, but the description — a top front-court starter listed as “probable” on the injury report — matches Davis, who filled that exact designation before the contest.
Jones allegedly received $2,500 through a peer-to-peer payment app for sharing the tip, while a co-defendant wagered $100,000 on the Lakers to lose. The plan failed: Davis played 35 minutes, scored 27 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and helped Los Angeles win.
When the bet collapsed and the angry bettors demanded that Jones return the $2,500 fee, Jones “reaffirmed” via text that he had obtained “credible non-public information” about Davis’ condition, according to court documents.
Davis has not been accused of any wrongdoing, and the indictment does not claim that he was directly involved or complicit in Jones’ activities.
NBA Responds as Investigation Widens
The NBA confirmed that Billups and Rozier were placed on immediate leave and said it is cooperating with federal investigators.
“We are in the process of reviewing the federal indictments announced today,” the league statement said. “We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority.”
FBI director Kash Patel slammed the massive and complex “fraud” as “mind-boggling.”
Jones, a 12-year NBA veteran who played briefly for the Boston Celtics and was a longtime teammate of LeBron James in Cleveland, has not coached in the league since 2018, but he was an unofficial part of the Lakers coaching staff at the time due to his close working relationship with James. Federal agents allege those relationships gave him access to inside information he used for profit.
Dallas Watches Its Star Under a Spotlight
Davis, now in his first full season with the Mavericks, has so far stayed silent on the betting investigation but continues to dominate on the court. Through two games, he is averaging 24.5 points, 13.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.5 blocks, anchoring Dallas’ front line.
Still, his production hasn’t translated into wins. The Mavericks are 0-2, routed 125-92 by the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday — when French phenom Victor Wembanyama shredded their defense — and then falling by 10 to the Washington Wizards, a team projected to finish near the bottom of the standings.
Davis Preaches Patience Amid Mavericks’ Early Struggles
Despite the winless start, Davis told reporters he has “zero” level of concern about Dallas’ direction.
“Zero. It’s two games,” Davis told reporters. “Just got to be better defensively. I think we’re gonna play the big lineup… We’ve just got to do a better job with our switching, our low man… We’ve gotta do a better job on the defensive end; I think that’s where our biggest problem is.”
Davis’ calm demeanor mirrors the Mavericks’ message that it’s too early to panic. But with the team now drawn into the backdrop of an ongoing federal betting probe, every performance — on and off the court — will be under the microscope as the investigation continues.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Damon Jones’ Betting Leak Puts Spotlight on Mavericks Star Anthony Davis appeared first on Heavy Sports.