NBA seizes cell phones from teams in illegal gambling investigation
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The NBA is reportedly searching for cellphones and other property from multiple teams as part of its investigation into illegal sports gambling.
“The NBA retained an independent law firm to investigate the allegations after the indictment was made public,” an NBA spokesman said. Athletic. “As is standard in these types of investigations, a number of different individuals and organizations were asked to preserve documents and records. Everyone cooperated fully.”
Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Mike Mancias and administrative executive Randy Mims, who each have close ties to superstar LeBron James, have reportedly already conspired to turn over the cellphones to Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, an outside law firm contracted by the NBA to help conduct the investigation.
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) takes a shot as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9) defends in the first half during Game 5 of the NBA basketball first round playoff series in Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Fox News Digital has reached out to the NBA and Lakers for comment.
The NBA is in the midst of dealing with an explosive scandal that led to Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA player and coach Damon Jones being federally charged last month for their roles in a criminal gambling scheme.
Congress got involved on Friday, when the House Commerce Committee sent a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver requesting information and briefings on the scandal. The bipartisan letter was signed by six members of Congress on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
The committee requests information from Silver on five key points:
“1. Details regarding fraudulent, illegal, and alleged betting practices associated with NBA players, coaches, and officials, including the actions of NBA players and coaches set forth in the latest indictment, as well as prior examples, some of which are noted 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 activities, including the disclosure of non-public information for the purpose of illegal betting schemes. 4. A description of gaps, if any, in existing regulations that allow illegal betting schemes to occur. 5. Whether and how the NBA is re-evaluating the terms of its partnerships with sports betting companies.”
The letter also references comments Silver made Tuesday on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” in which he expressed support for the commissioner’s greater federal sports betting regulation.
“Frankly, I think there probably needs to be more regulation,” Silver said. “I wish there was federal legislation instead of state by state. I think you have to watch the amount of publicity, the amount of advertising around it.”
The Justice Department listed seven NBA games with high stakes after non-public information was disclosed to gamblers.
Rozier’s alleged involvement came on March 23, 2023, when he told a childhood friend, Deniro Laster, that he would take him out of the game early, citing an injury, so Laster could punt on the information. According to the indictment, neither Hornets officials nor bookmakers were informed of Rozier’s plan, and Rozier was not listed on the team’s injury report.
HEAT’S TERRY ROZIER ARRESTED AS PART OF FBI’S SPORTS BEtting INVESTIGATION
Laster then allegedly sold this information to other conspirators, and numerous individuals placed bets totaling nearly $200,000 on Rozier’s “underdog” prop bets to succeed in both parlay and straight bets. Rozier won the bets after playing just nine minutes and never returning. The indictment states that Rozier and Laster counted the cash proceeds about a week later at Rozier’s home in Charlotte.
The DOJ said the player was ultimately ruled out due to 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 became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer by scoring 38 points.
Another game cited by the DOJ was the Portland Trail Blazers-Chicago Bulls matchup on March 24, 2023, the day after Rozier played nine minutes, and an associate “who was an NBA coach at the time” allegedly told a longtime friend who was also a defendant in the fraudulent poker scheme that the Blazers would “tank” for a better draft pick that night and sit some of the team’s best players. The rest of the cast has not yet been publicly announced.
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Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) watches the second half of the NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards on 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.
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