The National Basketball Association has initiated a comprehensive investigation into illegal sports betting activities, compelling players and team staff to surrender their mobile phones and relevant documents as part of the probe.
League-Wide Investigation Underway
According to reports emerging on Sunday 16th November 2025, the NBA has taken the extraordinary step of requiring multiple teams, including the high-profile Los Angeles Lakers, to provide phones and documentation to external investigators. The league has engaged the prominent law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to conduct the investigation following congressional pressure.
This development comes after the Department of Justice brought charges against several basketball figures in two separate cases. Portland Trailblazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former player and coach Damon Jones all face allegations relating to illegal gambling activities.
Lakers Under Scrutiny
Investigators are expected to question Lakers players, including superstar LeBron James, who had a previous connection with Jones as both a former teammate and trainee. This relationship allegedly provided Jones with special access to the team that prosecutors claim was exploited for gambling purposes.
Two key members of James's inner circle have already cooperated with investigators. Lakers assistant trainer Mike Mancias and executive administrator Randy Mims voluntarily handed their phones to investigators. Both men share long-standing relationships with James, with Mims being a close friend since high school and Mancias serving as his trainer for over twenty years.
An NBA spokesman confirmed to The Athletic: "The NBA engaged an independent law firm to investigate the allegations in the indictment once it was made public. As is standard in these kinds of investigations, a number of different individuals and organizations were asked to preserve documents and records. Everyone has been fully cooperative."
Allegations Against Former Player
The investigation centres around serious allegations against former NBA player Damon Jones, who was arrested last month. Jones stands accused of selling private injury information about prominent Lakers players to professional gamblers on multiple occasions.
Federal prosecutors claim that on February 9, 2023, Jones advised bettors to place a "big bet" on the Milwaukee Bucks when they were scheduled to play against the Lakers. Jones allegedly informed gamblers that an unnamed star player would be absent from the game - which proved accurate when James ultimately didn't play.
In another instance, Jones reportedly sold information about a different injured player, claiming he learned about the injury from the first player. Despite these allegations, James, Mancias and Mims have not been accused of any crimes or named in either federal indictment.
Jones, who faces charges in both federal cases, pleaded not guilty during his appearance in federal court in Brooklyn earlier this month. The NBA's decisive action demonstrates the seriousness with which the league is treating these gambling allegations that threaten the integrity of the sport.
