Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is “upset” that Damon Jones shared private information about his playing status with gamblers, a source told Lakers Daily.
James, who is close friends with Jones, had no idea Jones shared non-public information about him with gamblers during the 2022-23 season, the source said.
Jones told gamblers that James wouldn’t play against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 9, 2023 before the Lakers made the announcement. Without James, Los Angeles lost to Milwaukee by a final score of 115-106 at home.
While Jones wasn’t an official member of the Lakers’ coaching staff during the 2022-23 season, he did work with James during pregame workouts. Jones also had access to Los Angeles’ locker room, hotels and planes.
The Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 Western Conference Finals in four games. Jones also shared private information about Anthony Davis’ playing status with gamblers, the source said.
James and Jones were teammates on the Cleveland Cavaliers for three seasons. James brought Jones to the Lakers for the 2022-23 season because Jones had made it known he wanted to get into coaching and James was helping his friend out, the source said.
The leading scorer in NBA history, James is currently out with sciatica on his right side, so he doesn’t need to speak to the media. James, 40, could make his season debut in mid-November, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
When James is cleared to play, he will speak to the media again and reporters will probably ask him about the Jones situation.