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Former NBA player and coach Damon Jones reportedly plans to change his plea to guilty on charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering stemming from two separate illegal gambling cases.
ABC News reported that Jones has requested a change of plea after pleading not guilty in November.
Jones’ attorney, Kenneth Montgomery, told the outlet that Jones is “not cooperating.”
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LeBron James talks with former Cavaliers teammate Damon Jones during a practice outside the day before Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on June 6, 2017. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle/Getty Images)
Jones is said to have told someone close to him that a “prominent” player on the Los Angeles Lakers, widely speculated to be LeBron James, would not play on February 9, 2023, before the information was public. Jones was an assistant for the team at the time.
James did not play in the game due to an ankle injury. The game in question took place two days after James scored 38 points to become the NBA’s leading scorer.
Jones also reportedly provided apparent inside information about another “one of the Lakers’ top players” 11 months later, who is speculated to be Anthony Davisregarding an injury likely to affect his performance. It ultimately backfired because the player “performed well” and the Lakers won, according to authorities.
Sketch of former NBA player Damon Jones (left) with his attorney Kenneth Montgomery standing before Judge Ramon Reyes in federal court in New York on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. Jones has pleaded not guilty to gambling charges. (Jane Rosenberg) (Jane Rosenberg/Unknown)
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Jones is also alleged to have participated in and benefited from rigged poker games used as a “face card” along with Chauncey Billupsto lure victims into playing with celebrities.
In response to being coached on how to cheat, Jones responded, “Lol man, you call Djones because you know I know what I’m doing!!” according to the Ministry of Justice.
Jones is one of three people to be charged in both gambling cases.
Despite going undrafted out of Houston in 1997, Jones played 11 seasons in the NBA. The definition of a journeyman, Jones played for 10 teams and earned more than $20 million in his career. Throughout his time, he was teammates with prominent stars, including James during his three-year stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2005 to 2008. He also spent a season with Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal with the Miami Heat.
(Background) The J. Edgar Hoover Building, home to the Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters, is shown in Washington, DC, on May 28, 2025. (Left) Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups calls a play in the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, on Feb. 20, 250 in Miami (Middle Feb. 250). Rozier (2) dribbles the basketball against the Chicago Bulls in the third quarter at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, March 8, 2025. (Right) Cleveland Cavaliers’ Damon Jones (19) is in action against the Boston Celtics in Cleveland, Ohio, on November 27, 2007. (STR/NurPhoto/Troy Wayrynen/Imagn Images/Sam Navarro/Imagn Images/Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
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He became a coach after his playing career and won a title with James and the Cavs in 2016 as an assistant. Jones joined the Lakers, James’ current team, as an unofficial, unpaid member of the coaching staff for the 2022–23 season.
