The NBA has contacted several teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, and requested cell phone access as part of the league’s ongoing investigation into an illegal gambling ring, according to a report from The Athletic.
Last month, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups were arrested and charged for their roles in the gambling ring. Billups’ arrest stemmed from an illegal poker operation tied to the mafia. The duo will be arraigned later this month and were both indefinitely suspended.
Former Cleveland Cavaliers player and LeBron James’ former shooting coach, Damon Jones was arrested, as well.
Jones had “special access to the Lakers,” according to The Athletic. Because of that, investigators are expected to “seek documents, including cell phones and phone records from at least 10 Lakers employees.”
“Per league sources, Lakers assistant trainer Mike Mancias and executive administrator Randy Mims are among the employees who are already cooperating and who voluntarily handed their cell phones over to investigators,” The Athletic reported.
Macias has been James’ trainer for two decades. Mims has known the Lakers star since high school.
Rozier, Billups and Jones were three of 34 people arrested as part of a federal investigation.
NBA officials met with the United State congressional committee earlier this month following the arrests.
In January, it was reported that Rozier had been under federal investigation but hadn’t been accused of any wrongdoing. The investigation was connected to the betting scheme that led to Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter getting permanently banned from the NBA.
Porter admitted he manipulated games he played in for gambling purposes and plead guilty in July 2024 to wire fraud.
That same gambling ring is accused of heavily betting against Rozier in a 2023 game while he was a member of the Charlotte Hornets.
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