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Former NBA player and coach Damon Jones pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering stemming from two separate illegal gambling cases.
To remain free, he used his mother and stepfather’s home as security for a $200,000 bond.
Jones is one of three defendants in both the alleged poker ring and NBA betting cases. He is said to have told someone close to him that a “prominent” player on the Lakers, widely speculated to be LeBron James, would not play on February 9, 2023, before the information was public.
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.
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A 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 pleaded not guilty to gambling charges. (Jane Rosenberg)
Jones also reportedly provided apparent inside information about another “one of the Lakers’ best players” 11 months later, speculated to be Anthony Davis, regarding an injury that would likely affect his performance. It ultimately backfired because the player “performed well” and the Lakers won.
Jones is also alleged to have participated in and benefited from rigged poker games used as a “face card” along with Chauncey Billups to lure victims into playing with celebrities.
Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones were arrested as part of an alleged illegal poker scheme. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images; Bill Frakes/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
HOW CHAUNCEY BILLUPS, DAMON JONES WERE ALLEGEDLY USED TO FORCE VICTIMS INTO ILLEGAL POKER GAMES
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.
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.
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.
LeBron James, left, talks with Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue (not pictured) and former teammate Damon Jones, right, during an off-day workout before the Golden State Warriors played the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland on June 6, 2017. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
More than 30 people have been arrested so far in both investigations. Jones is due back in court Nov. 24.
