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The NBA is reportedly seeking cellphones and other property from several teams as part of its investigation into illegal sports gambling.
“The NBA engaged an independent law firm to investigate the allegations in the indictment once it was made public,” an NBA spokesperson told The Athletic. “As is standard in these types of investigations, a variety of individuals and organizations were asked to provide documents and records. All have been fully cooperative.”
Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Mike Mancias and executive administrator Randy Mims, who each have close ties to superstar LeBron James, have reportedly already cooperated in turning over their cellphones to the outside law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, which has been contracted by the NBA to help conduct the investigation.
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9) defends during the first half of Game 5 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Pakinomist Digital has reached out to the NBA and the Lakers for comment.
The NBA is in the midst of dealing with a bombshell scandal that resulted in the federal indictment of Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA player and coach Damon Jones for their alleged roles in a criminal gambling scheme last month.
Congress got involved when the House Committee on Commerce sent a letter to NBA commissioner Adam Silver on Friday requesting information and a briefing to get information related to the scandal. The two-part letter was signed by six members of Congress on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
The committee seeks five key points of information from Silver:
“1. Details of the fraudulent, illegal and alleged betting practices involving NBA players, coaches and officials, including actions by NBA players and coaches identified in the latest indictment; as well as prior instances, some of which are identified above,” the letter states.
“2. Actions the NBA intends to take to limit the disclosure of non-public information for illegal purposes. 3. Whether the NBA’s Code of Conduct for Players and Coaches effectively prohibits illegal activity, including the disclosure of non-public information for the purpose of illegal betting schemes. 4. An explanation of the gaps that may exist in the existing betting schemes and where illegal schemes may arise. how the NBA is re-evaluating the terms of its partnerships with sports betting companies.”
The letter also refers to comments made by Silver during an appearance Tuesday on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show,” in which the commissioner expressed support for more federal regulation of sports betting.
“I think there probably should be more regulation, frankly,” Silver said. “I wish there was federal legislation instead of state by state. I think you have to monitor the amount of advertising, the amount of advertising around it.”
The Justice Department listed seven NBA games that saw high stakes after non-public information was disclosed to players.
Rozier’s alleged involvement came in a game on March 23, 2023, when he told a childhood friend, Deniro Laster, that he would take himself out of a game early, citing an injury, so that Laster could place bets based on the information. Neither Hornets officials nor betting companies were made aware of Rozier’s plan, according to the indictment, and Rozier was not listed on the team’s injury report.
HEAT’S TERRY ROZIER ARRESTED AS PART OF FBI SPORTS BETTING PROBE
Laster then allegedly sold this information to other co-conspirators, and several people bet a total of about $200,000 on Rozier’s “under” prop bets to hit both parlay and straight bets. After Rozier played just nine minutes and never returned, the bets won. Rozier and Laster counted winnings at Rozier’s home in Charlotte about a week later, an indictment states.
The DOJ says the player was eventually ruled out with a lower-body injury. LeBron James did not play that night due to an ankle injury that kept him out for two more games. The game in question was played two days after James scored 38 points to become the NBA’s leading scorer.
Another game the DOJ mentioned was a Portland Trail Blazers-Chicago Bulls matchup on March 24, 2023, the day after Rozier played nine minutes and a co-conspirator, “an NBA coach at the time,” allegedly told a longtime friend, who is also a defendant in the rigged poker scheme, that the Blazers would be the “better draft team that night” and would be the “better selection” that night. The rest of the players had not yet been public information.
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Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) watches during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
Rozier and Jones were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The NBA announced that Rozier and Billups were placed on immediate leave from their teams, “and we will continue to cooperate with the appropriate authorities.”
“The integrity of our game remains our top priority,” the NBA said.
