Lebron James Dragged Into Explosive NBA Mafia Gambling Scandal

The NBA has been rocked by one of its biggest scandals in decades, and now even LeBron James has been pulled into the chaos. Federal investigators have revealed shocking new details about an alleged Mafia-run gambling operation that’s sent the league into crisis mode. Among those implicated are Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former Cleveland Cavalier Damon Jones, who is accused of leaking private information about LeBron James to illegal gamblers.

According to the Daily Mail, the FBI’s bombshell indictment says former NBA player Damon Jones, a longtime friend and former teammate of James, allegedly sold or attempted to profit from non-public information about the basketball legend’s injury status. The leak reportedly occurred just days after James set the league’s all-time scoring record, before he was ruled out of a February 9, 2023, game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

At the time, Jones was serving as an unofficial assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2022-23 season. Prosecutors allege he shared the information with gamblers looking to capitalize on insider knowledge before betting lines shifted. Jones has since been indicted in the federal gambling probe, which has shaken the NBA and sparked widespread outrage among fans who are calling for transparency and accountability.

The scandal exploded Thursday morning after the FBI confirmed a multi-state investigation into Mafia-connected gambling rackets, allegedly tied to organized crime families in New York. "Today the FBI dismantled a multi-million dollar gambling ring tied to La Cosa Nostra, including current & former NBA players and coaches, as well as an inside scheme to rig sports betting outcomes for profit," FBI Director Kash Patel said. "Cheating, corruption, and laundering have consequences. We followed the money, and the law caught up."

Officials say the probe has resulted in 34 arrests, including current and former NBA figures. The indictment claims members of La Cosa Nostra provided “support and protection” for illegal poker games, collecting debts and sharing in profits from the underground operations.

One particularly damning allegation involves rigged high-stakes poker games in Manhattan, which prosecutors say were operated with the “express permission” of organized crime families in exchange for a portion of gambling proceeds.

In an official statement, the NBA confirmed it has placed Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier on immediate leave, pending the results of the investigation.

“We are in the process of reviewing the federal indictments announced today,” the league said. “Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups are being placed on immediate leave from their teams, and we will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities. We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority.”

The announcement has ignited heated debate online, with fans questioning how deep the corruption may run and whether additional players or coaches could be implicated.

Adding another shocking layer to the scandal, Rozier is accused of staging an injury during the Charlotte Hornets–New Orleans Pelicans game on March 23, 2023, after allegedly tipping off co-conspirators. According to the FBI, sportsbooks in multiple states flagged suspicious betting activity on Rozier’s statistics ahead of the game. He allegedly told defendants he would leave early, triggering a wave of “under” bets on his points, rebounds, and assists.

Over $200,000 in wagers were placed before sportsbooks halted betting on Rozier altogether. He left the game after less than 10 minutes, citing a “sore right foot,” having logged just five points, four rebounds, and two assists. Investigators allege Rozier later counted the profits at his home alongside other defendants, a claim that, if proven true, could lead to serious prison time.

While James has not been accused of wrongdoing, his name being tied to the scandal has sent shockwaves through both the NBA and the sports world at large. Fans have flooded social media with questions about how private team information could leak and whether more revelations are still to come.

With the FBI continuing its sweeping investigation and several prominent figures already indicted, this may only be the beginning of the NBA’s biggest gambling crisis since the Tim Donaghy referee scandal.

For now, the league’s integrity and the reputation of some of its biggest stars hang in the balance.