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Former NBA subordinate and coach Damon Jones reportedly plans to alteration his plea to blameworthy connected charges of conspiracy to perpetrate ligament fraud and money laundering that stemmed from 2 abstracted forbidden gambling cases.
ABC News reported that Jones has requested a change-of-plea proceeding aft primitively pleading not guilty successful November.
Jones' attorney, Kenneth Montgomery, told the outlet that Jones "is not cooperating."
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LeBron James talks pinch erstwhile Cavaliers teammate Damon Jones during an off-day believe earlier Game 3 of nan NBA Finals astatine Quicken Loans Arena successful Cleveland, Ohio, connected June 6, 2017. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle/Getty Images)
Jones is alleged to person told personification adjacent to him that a "prominent" subordinate connected nan Los Angeles Lakers, wide speculated to be LeBron James, would not play Feb. 9, 2023, earlier nan accusation was public. Jones was an adjunct for nan squad astatine nan time.
James did not play successful nan crippled owed to an ankle injury. The crippled successful mobility took spot 2 days aft James scored 38 points to go nan NBA's all-time starring scorer.
Jones besides allegedly gave evident wrong accusation astir different "one of nan Lakers' champion players" 11 months later, speculated to be Anthony Davis, regarding an wounded that was apt to impact his performance. That yet backfired because nan subordinate "performed well," and nan Lakers won, according to authorities.
Sketch of Former NBA subordinate Damon Jones (left) pinch his lawyer Kenneth Montgomery opinionated earlier Judge Ramon Reyes successful national tribunal successful New York connected Thursday, November 6, 2025. Jones pleads not blameworthy to gambling charges. (Jane Rosenberg) (Jane Rosenberg/Unknown)
7 NBA GAMES DOJ SAYS WERE AFFECTED BY HIGH-STAKES WAGERS AFTER INSIDE INFORMATION WAS LEAKED TO GAMBLERS
Jones is besides alleged to person taken portion in, and benefited from, rigged poker games, being utilized arsenic a "face card," on with Chauncey Billups, to lure victims into playing pinch celebrities.
In consequence to being coached connected really to cheat, Jones replied, "Lol man y'all telephone Djones successful origin y'all cognize I cognize what I'm doing!!" according to nan Department of Justice.
Jones is 1 of 3 group to beryllium charged successful some gambling cases.
Despite being undrafted retired of Houston successful 1997, Jones played 11 seasons successful nan NBA. The meaning of a journeyman, Jones played for 10 teams and made much than $20 cardinal successful his career. Throughout his time, he was teammates pinch salient stars, including James, during his three-year stint pinch nan Cleveland Cavaliers from 2005 to 2008. He besides spent a play pinch Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal pinch nan Miami Heat.
(Background) The J. Edgar Hoover Building, location to nan Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters, is shown successful Washington, D.C., connected May 28, 2025. (Left) Portland Trail Blazers caput coach Chauncey Billups calls retired a play during nan first half against nan Los Angeles Lakers astatine Moda Center successful Portland, Oregon, connected Feb. 20, 2025. (Middle) Miami Heat defender Terry Rozier (2) dribbles nan hoops against nan Chicago Bulls during nan 3rd 4th astatine Kaseya Center successful Miami, Florida, connected March 8, 2025. (Right) Cleveland Cavaliers’ Damon Jones (19) is successful action against nan Boston Celtics successful Cleveland, Ohio, connected Nov. 27, 2007. (STR/NurPhoto/Troy Wayrynen/Imagn Images/Sam Navarro/Imagn Images/Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
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He became a coach pursuing his playing career, winning a title pinch James and nan Cavs successful 2016 arsenic an assistant. Jones joined nan Lakers, James' existent team, arsenic an unofficial, unpaid personnel of nan coaching unit for nan 2022-23 season.
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