Damon Jones, the former NBA guard and longtime league assistant, is poised to become the first defendant to plead guilty in the federal sports-betting case that emerged from the Department of Justice’s broader gambling investigation last fall.
Jones, 49, has requested a change-of-plea hearing in Brooklyn federal court on April 28 after initially pleading not guilty.
The significance of that move extends beyond Jones himself. Prosecutors have accused him of selling nonpublic information about player injuries and availability to bettors, including details tied to Los Angeles Lakers games involving LeBron James and Anthony Davis. One allegation reportedly centers on Jones advising a bettor to place a large wager on Milwaukee after learning James would not play in a February 2023 game, before that information became public.
What changes now is not the substance of the accusation, but the legal posture. Jones had previously denied the charges, yet his request for a plea hearing makes him the first among the defendants in this case to signal an intention to admit guilt. The scheduled hearing is specifically for Jones to change his plea in the sports-betting matter.
Jones’ basketball résumé gives the case added visibility. He played 11 NBA seasons for 10 franchises and later worked as a coach, including time around LeBron James in Cleveland and Los Angeles.
The broader case has already raised familiar concerns about where modern sports, gambling access and insider knowledge collide. But Jones’ expected plea introduces a new phase. Until now, the story had largely been about accusation and denial. With one defendant now prepared to plead guilty, the case moves closer to becoming not just a scandal under investigation, but a corruption case with an admission at its center.
