The Lakers are among the teams asked to hand over documents in the NBA’s gambling investigation

The NBA is feeling the heat from Washington, following the federal charges filed against Terry Rozier, Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones in October. Congressional committees are demanding that the league take responsibility and action in this case bombshell gambling investigationand the Association is responsible from searching for new information. The Los Angeles Lakers and other teams named in the FBI indictments have been asked to turn over cellphones and documents to the NBA, according to the Athletics’ Joe Vardon, Mike Workunov and Sam Amick.

Jones’ previous association with the Purple and Gold put the franchise under the microscope. The retired guard developed a relationship with LeBron James while the two were on the Cleveland Cavaliers together and later served as a personal shooting coach in LA. Although he wasn’t officially employed by the Lakers, Jones had quite a bit of access. He allegedly sold classified information to bookies during the 2022-23 campaign regarding the injury status of players matching the description of James and Anthony Davis.

Jones, along with Billups, was also indicted for his alleged role in a mob-orchestrated poker scheme. He pleaded not guilty on all charges.

Damon Jones, a championship winner asst on the Cavs in 2015-16, he was linked to the Lakers for just one season. Still, the NBA is under pressure to get more clarity on the situation.

Others involved in this shocking scandal

The Charlotte Hornets were also arrested in the gambling investigation. Their former guard, Terry Rozier, was also charged with participating in an illegal sports betting scam. The FBI says he planned to remove himself from the 2023 game under the guise of an injury, allowing sports bettors to profit by taking less of all bets centered on Rozier. He also pleaded not guilty.

The Orlando Magic were also the subject of a federal investigation, which said a player, no longer believed to be with the team, told a gambler that the Magic intended to sit their starters for a game during April 2023. Many wonder why the league wasn’t more diligent.

Rozier was being investigated by the NBA but in the end he found no concrete evidence linking him to any crimes. Federal prosecutors apparently disagree with those findings. Congress must be eager to learn what is gleaned from these further investigations.