The Los Angeles Lakers are among several NBA teams instructed to submit “documents and records” as part of the league’s widening investigation into alleged illegal gambling activity, according to reports on Sunday (16 November) from The Athletic and ESPN.
ESPN reports that assistant trainer Mike Mancias and executive administrator Randy Mims are among roughly a dozen Lakers employees cooperating with investigators. Their involvement, sources stressed, does not indicate disciplinary action.
“The NBA engaged an independent law firm to investigate the allegations contained in the indictment once it became public. As is typical in matters of this nature, various individuals and organisations were asked to preserve documents and records. Everyone has been fully cooperative,” a league spokesperson said.
The Lakers have drawn attention in part due to the presence of LeBron James, now in his seventh season with the franchise. A federal indictment filed last month — which stunned the league — included charges against former player and assistant coach Damon Jones, a close friend of James. Jones is accused of selling, or attempting to sell, confidential information to bettors regarding James’ expected absence from a 2022–23 matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The investigation has also ensnared Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, who is alleged to have participated in rigged poker games, and Miami guard Terry Rozier. Rozier is accused of informing his friend, DeNiro Laster, that he planned to exit a Charlotte Hornets game early under the guise of injury. Prosecutors say Laster and associates used that information to place more than USD 200,000 in wagers on Rozier’s “under” statistics, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
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