NBA Wants Cell Phones From Multiple Teams Including Lakers as Betting Probe Widens

The NBA has requested that multiple teams hand over phones and documents as the league continues to investigate the betting scandal that led to the arrests of Terry Rozier, Chauncey Billups, and Damon Jones.

Under pressure from Congress, the NBA is intensifying its investigation and has hired the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to assist its inquiry.

Lakers assistant trainer Mike Mancias and executive administrator Randy Mims — both long-time associates of star player LeBron James — have already handed over their phones and are cooperating.

“The NBA engaged an independent law firm to investigate the allegations in the indictment once it was made public,” an NBA spokesman said to The Athletic 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.”

Details about other teams or players that have been requested to hand over records have not been revealed yet.

Prosecutors Allege Insider Information Fed to Bettors

Jones worked as an assistant coach for the Lakers during the 2022-23 season and is accused of using his position to feed insider information to bettors.

Ahead of a game against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 9, 2023, Jones allegedly messaged associates telling them to “get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight” because James was going to be out. Milwaukee beat the Lakers 115-106.

In the indictment against Jones, prosecutors also state that he told bettors Anthony Davis would have limited minutes in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on January 15, 2024.

Believing Davis would sit the match out, tipster Marves Fairley placed a $100,000 bet on Oklahoma to win. As it turned out, Davis played and scored 27 points as the Lakers won 112-105.

Fairley is accused of paying Eric Earnest, an associate indicted along with Jones, $2,500 for the information. After the game, he reportedly demanded that the $2,500 be returned. It is not clear whether Jones or Earnest compensated Fairley for his losses.

Jones and Fairley were both released on bail after pleading not guilty to charges of wire fraud and money laundering.

Phone Records Could Implicate Other Players & Staff

As the NBA delves into the team’s phones, there may be other accusations that staff members have been using their positions to benefit bettors.

In addition to Rozier, Billups, and Jones, Jontay Porter was named in the indictment, having already pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Porter is scheduled to be sentenced in December this year following several delays. He fed information to bettors that he would exit games early when playing for the Toronto Raptors against the Clippers and Kings in early 2024.

Others have also been implicated, if not named, in the scandal. Fairley allegedly used a connection with an Orlando Magic player to receive information about the team’s lineup before a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 6, 2023.

Documents state the player was a regular starter during that season for the Magic, which has led to online speculation that it could be Markelle Fultz or Gary Harris. However, nothing has been confirmed.

Malik Beasley in Limbo Amid Investigation

Additionally, Malik Beasley remains without a team following investigations into suspicious betting activity on his prop markets. Beasley was not named in the indictment, nor has there been any accusation that he fed bettors with information.

A surge of bets went on the former Milwaukee Bucks player to record fewer than 2.5 rebounds in a match against Billups’ Portland Trail Blazers in January 2024. 

Phone records may reveal that an insider had told bettors that Beasley would exit the game early, which proved not to be the case. He went on to record six rebounds in the match, meaning the bets lost.

Rozier & Billups Allegedly Provided Information to Bettors

In another Portland game, Billups allegedly informed bettors that he would field a weakened lineup against the Chicago Bulls on March 23, 2024. The indictment notes Fairley wired $20,000 to Earnest for passing on the information that led to winning bets on the Bulls.

A day earlier, Rozier was accused of telling bettors he would exit a game against the New Orleans Pelicans early when playing for the Charlotte Hornets. Fairley allegedly paid $100,000 for that tip.

In total, eight games have been identified as having suspicious betting activity. However, as the matches spanned from February 2023 to March 2024, other games were likely also involved in the scheme. As the NBA probes more into coaches, players, and teams, much more could be revealed in the coming weeks and months.

NCAA Games Also Under Scrutiny

College basketball is also caught up in a similar, and possibly related, scandal. Investigators have named Fairley as one of the main suspects in a scheme that allegedly targeted several schools. Last week, the NCAA banned six players for manipulating match outcomes and feeding information to bettors.

Previously, the FBI stated that indictments would be coming soon in a betting scandal with at least 10 games identified with suspicious gambling. The games all took place in December 2024 and January 2025.

With MLB players also implicated in a betting scandal, there have been calls to ban prop bets; however, some experts argue that this would lead to spot-fixing going unnoticed.

The fact that betting is increasingly legal across many states means that suspicious activity can be identified. If prop bets are made illegal and gambling takes place with unregulated bookies and offshore platforms, it could become more difficult for leagues and regulators to detect any manipulation of results.