Ex-NBA player who allegedly gave suspected tip on LeBron James plans to reverse plea in gambling case: report

Former NBA subordinate and manager Damon Jones reportedly plans to alteration his plea to blameworthy connected charges of conspiracy to perpetrate ligament fraud and wealth laundering that stemmed from 2 abstracted amerciable gambling cases. 

ABC News reported that Jones has requested a change-of-plea proceeding aft primitively pleading not blameworthy successful November.

Jones' attorney, Kenneth Montgomery, told the outlet that Jones "is not cooperating."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

LeBron James talks with erstwhile Cavaliers teammate Damon Jones during an off-day signifier earlier Game 3 of the NBA Finals astatine Quicken Loans Arena successful Cleveland, Ohio, connected June 6, 2017. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle/Getty Images)

Jones is alleged to person told idiosyncratic adjacent to him that a "prominent" subordinate connected the Los Angeles Lakers, wide speculated to be LeBron James, would not play Feb. 9, 2023, earlier the accusation was public. Jones was an adjunct for the squad astatine the time.

James did not play successful the crippled owed to an ankle injury. The crippled successful question took spot 2 days aft James scored 38 points to go the NBA's all-time starring scorer.

Jones besides allegedly gave evident wrong accusation astir different "one of the Lakers' champion players" 11 months later, speculated to be Anthony Davis, regarding an wounded that was apt to impact his performance. That yet backfired due to the fact that the subordinate "performed well," and the Lakers won, according to authorities.

Sketch of Former NBA subordinate Damon Jones (left) with his lawyer Kenneth Montgomery lasting earlier Judge Ramon Reyes successful national tribunal successful New York connected Thursday, November 6, 2025. Jones pleads not blameworthy to gambling charges. (Jane Rosenberg) (Jane Rosenberg/Unknown)

7 NBA GAMES DOJ SAYS WERE AFFECTED BY HIGH-STAKES WAGERS AFTER INSIDE INFORMATION WAS LEAKED TO GAMBLERS

Jones is besides alleged to person taken portion in, and benefited from, rigged poker games, being utilized arsenic a "face card," on with Chauncey Billups, to lure victims into playing with celebrities.

In effect to being coached connected however to cheat, Jones replied, "Lol antheral y'all telephone Djones successful origin y'all cognize I cognize what I'm doing!!" according to the Department of Justice.

Jones is 1 of 3 radical to beryllium charged successful some gambling cases.

Despite being undrafted retired of Houston successful 1997, Jones played 11 seasons successful the NBA. The explanation of a journeyman, Jones played for 10 teams and made much than $20 cardinal successful his career. Throughout his time, helium was teammates with salient stars, including James, during his three-year stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2005 to 2008. He besides spent a play with Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal with the Miami Heat.

(Background) The J. Edgar Hoover Building, location to the Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters, is shown successful Washington, D.C., connected May 28, 2025. (Left) Portland Trail Blazers caput manager Chauncey Billups calls retired a play during the archetypal fractional against the Los Angeles Lakers astatine Moda Center successful Portland, Oregon, connected Feb. 20, 2025. (Middle) Miami Heat defender Terry Rozier (2) dribbles the hoops against the Chicago Bulls during the 3rd 4th astatine Kaseya Center successful Miami, Florida, connected March 8, 2025. (Right) Cleveland Cavaliers’ Damon Jones (19) is successful enactment against the Boston Celtics successful Cleveland, Ohio, connected Nov. 27, 2007. (STR/NurPhoto/Troy Wayrynen/Imagn Images/Sam Navarro/Imagn Images/Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

He became a manager pursuing his playing career, winning a rubric with James and the Cavs successful 2016 arsenic an assistant. Jones joined the Lakers, James' existent team, arsenic an unofficial, unpaid subordinate of the coaching unit for the 2022-23 season.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.