That’s why it’s called gambling.
Former Cavaliers player and assistant coach Damon Jones allegedly received $2,500 for insider information that backfired during a 2024 Lakers game involving close friend LeBron James.
Jones, whom the FBI arrested for his supposed involvement in both an alleged sport betting scheme and purported poker rigging plot, claimed that he learned from a Lakers trainer that “one of the Lakers’ best players during the 2023-2024 season” would only play limited minutes due to injury during a Jan. 15, 2024 game against the Thunder, according to the court papers.
He allegedly told co-defendant Eric “Spook” Earnest, who shared the tip with Marves Fairley, and Jones purportedly received $2,500 for the tip.
Fairley wagered $100,000 against the Lakers.
Said star player, though, played in the game and the Lakers triumphed, 112-105.
An SI.com article from that day stated the Lakers listed James as questionable, Anthony Davis as probable and D’Angelo Russell as questionable.
James played 39 minutes and scored 25 points, while Davis logged 38 minutes and scored 27 points. Russell tallied 14 points in 36 minutes.
Fairley then allegedly requested the $2,500 back, but Jones countered that he had “credible non-public information” regarding said player.
It’s not known whether he returned the amount.
Jones did, allegedly, make a better recommendation with the other tip he supposedly gave regarding James and the Lakers.
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While he served as an unofficial assistant for Los Angeles, he purportedly sent a text to an alleged member of the betting ring saying to bet big on the Bucks against the Lakers for a Feb. 9, 2023 game since James would not be active for Los Angeles that night, sources told The Post.
Milwaukee won, 115-106, and covered the spread against a James-less Lakers team.
“Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out!,” Jones said in his text, according to the indictment.
Jones is one of three individuals who played in the NBA whom the FBI arrested on Thursday, along with Heat guard Terry Rozier and Blazers coach and Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups.
Rozier is alleged to have tipped off bettors to help them win money by betting on his Unders, while Billups purportedly participated in rigged poker games to scam competitors.
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