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A federal betting case tied to inside NBA injury information is about to shift. Damon Jones, who had denied one charge last year, now wants to change that plea.
Good to Know
Damon Jones first pleaded not guilty in November 2025 to a federal charge tied to injury information on LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Now, according to court documents cited by ABC News, he has asked for a change of plea hearing. That hearing is reportedly set for April 28.
Prosecutors say Jones tried twice to sell player status information to bettors including Marves Fairley and Shane Hennen. One alleged tip came before a February 9, 2023 game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks, when Jones had a close relationship with James as an unofficial assistant coach.
According to the indictment, Jones texted that James would miss the game and told the group to “get a big bet on Milwaukee.” He also asked them to “bet enough” so he would get part of the winnings. James did sit out, the Lakers lost, and bettors allegedly profited. James was not accused of wrongdoing.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said:
“As alleged, the defendants turned professional basketball into a criminal betting operation, using private locker room and medical information to enrich themselves and cheat legitimate sportsbooks. This was a sophisticated conspiracy involving athletes, coaches, and intermediaries who exploited confidential information for profit.”
Another episode involved Anthony Davis. In January 2024, Fairley allegedly paid Jones $2,500 through a peer-to-peer payment app for injury information. The group believed Davis would sit, but he played and the Lakers won. Fairley later asked for the money back, while Jones said the tip had been “credible,” according to the indictment.
Jones still has a separate case ahead. Prosecutors also accuse him and suspended Portland Trail Blazers head coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups of drawing poker players into a mob-rigged game that used electronic equipment to cheat players out of millions. Jones has not changed his not guilty plea in that matter.