LeBron James injury information leaked to bettors, indictment suggests
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) prepares to take a foul shot against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena on October 22, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Gina Ferazzi | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images
New bombshell claim accusing former NBA player damon jones It alleges that Jones leaked information about superstar LeBron James’ injury status to sports bettors before a game in February 2023, while he was affiliated with the Los Angeles Lakers.
James is not accused of anything wrong federal indictment, The 49-year-old alleges Jones and others defrauded betting companies.
Jones and James previously played together for the Cleveland Cavaliers. At the time of the February 2023 game in Los Angeles mentioned in the indictment, Jones was serving as the Lakers’ unofficial coach.
A spokesperson for James declined to comment to CNBC.
The indictment refers to an unidentified Player 3.
The document states that Jones “was a teammate and coach of a well-known player, namely Player 3.”
The indictment states that Jones was on the morning of a match played on February 9. Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks “He sent a text message to Co-Conspirator 9, writing: ‘Place a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information comes out! [Player 3] out tonight. Bet enough so Djones can eat… now!”
Coach Damon Jones watches the game during the 2025 G League Elite Camp at Windtrust Arena on May 11, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
Jeff Haynes | National Basketball Association | Getty Images
“When Jones provided this nonpublic information about Player 3 to Co-Conspirator 9, Player 3 was not excluded from the NBA’s injury report for the game,” the indictment states.
James suffered a lower-body and ankle injury at the end of the match on February 9.
In the indictment, it is stated that “Player 3 did not play in the February 9 match due to an injury in his lower body.”
The only other active Laker player missing that game due to injury was Scotty Pippen Jr., who did not have a lower-body injury. Pippen was in the game’s concussion protocol.
Milwaukee defeated the Lakers in this game by a score of 115 to 106.
According to various betting sites, the Bucks entered the match as favorites with an average difference of 8 points.
A person familiar with James’ situation said he did not know his information would be used for betting.
— Additional reporting by CNBC Jessica Gold
