Reports: LA Lakers among NBA teams contacted in gambling investigation

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Lakers are one of multiple National Basketball Association (NBA) teams that have been asked to surrender “documents and records” to the league as part of an ongoing investigation into illegal gambling operations, The Athletic and ESPN reported on Nov 16.

ESPN reported that Mike Mancias, an assistant trainer, and Randy Mims, an executive administrator, are among roughly a dozen Lakers employees who are cooperating with the investigation.

However, being contacted as part of the investigation does not necessarily imply wrongdoing.

“The NBA engaged an independent law firm to investigate the allegations in the indictment once it was made public,” a league spokesperson told multiple outlets in a statement.

“As is standard in these kinds of investigations, a number of different individuals and organisations were asked to preserve documents and records. Everyone has been fully cooperative.”

The Lakers may be a team of interest due to the presence of LeBron James, now in his eighth season with the storied franchise.

When a federal indictment over illicit gambling took the NBA by surprise in October, among the people arrested were former player and assistant coach Damon Jones, a friend of James, who was accused of selling (or attempting to sell) non-public information to bettors that James would sit out a game against the Milwaukee Bucks due to injury during the 2022-23 season.

The gambling rings have also resulted in the arrests of Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, allegedly involved in rigged poker games, and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, who was accused of tipping off long-time friend Deniro Laster that he planned to leave a game for the Charlotte Hornets early by feigning an injury.

Laster and other conspirators then used that knowledge to “place and direct more than US$200,000 (S$260,000) in wagers predicting Rozier’s ‘under’ statistics (that Rozier would underperform)”, according to a statement from the Department of Justice.

Meanwhile, James is reportedly set to practise with the Lakers on Nov 17 (Nov 18, Singapore time), marking the first time he will join the team on the court since being sidelined in the pre-season with sciatica.

James’ recovery took a step forward last week when he was assigned to the franchise’s G League affiliate and practised with the South Bay Lakers.

The Lakers announced during the first week of pre-season games in October that their superstar forward would miss the start of the season. It marked the first time in his career that James, 40, missed a season opener.

James is set to become the first player in NBA history to play in 23 seasons when he makes his season debut. After completing a five-game road trip with a 24-point win on Nov 15 at Milwaukee, the Lakers play five of their next six games at home starting on Nov 18 against the Utah Jazz.

In NBA action on Nov 16, Kevin Durant scored a game-high 35 points and Alperen Sengun added 30 points as the Houston Rockets claimed a 117-113 overtime home win over the Orlando Magic.

Durant assisted on an Amen Thompson dunk with 51.8 seconds left that provided the Rockets a 111-110 lead, before nailing a jumper with 9.2 seconds left. 

Elsewhere, Jaylen Brown scored 33 points and Payton Pritchard finished with 30 as the Boston Celtics escaped with a 121-118 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Clippers.

Moses Moody buried seven three-pointers in the first quarter en route to a career-high 32 points to help the Golden State Warriors thump the New Orleans Pelicans 124-106 in James Borrego’s debut as interim coach. AFP, REUTERS