The NBA's inquiry into allegations of illegal gambling throughout the league appears set to grow.
The league is requesting cell phones and documents from multiple teams as part of its inquiry, according to a Saturday afternoon report from Sam Amick, Joe Vardon and Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic.
On Oct. 23, federal agents arrested Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, Heat guard Terry Rozier and others as part of a wide-ranging inquiry into allegations of game-fixing and rigged poker games. In the wake of the arrests, Congress began publicly sniffing around the NBA's affairs.
Per Amick, Vardon and Vorkunov, the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is aiding the NBA in conducting an investigation and has asked for cell phones and other items. The reporters added that Lakers assistant trainer Mike Mancias and executive administrator Randy Mims—both longtime associates of forward LeBron James and arrested ex-coach Damon Jones—have voluntarily turned over phones and documents.
“The NBA engaged an independent law firm to investigate the allegations in the indictment once it was made public,” an NBA spokesman told Amick, Vardon and Vorkunov in a statement. “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.”
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