According to six league sources, the NBA has requested that various teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, turn over documents and other property as part of its investigation into illegal sports gambling.
The league, which is being investigated by Congress, is looking for additional information in light of the criminal allegations filed by the Department of Justice last month.
Last month, House and Senate committees asked the NBA why it did not find credible evidence that players and coaches participated in a scheme to use private information to help bettors win money after Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups were arrested and charged. NBA officials told a congressional committee that the league was taking the claims seriously and had begun contacting clubs via the outside law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, requesting access to cell phones and other materials.
ALSO READ: A judge in Ontario has ruled that the province can let online gamblers play with foreigners.
Wachtell investigators are expected to seek documents from at least ten Lakers employees, including cell phones and phone records, in response to the charges filed against Damon Jones, a former NBA player and LeBron James’ former shooting coach who had special access to the team, according to league sources. According to league sources, Lakers assistant trainer Mike Mancias and executive administrator Randy Mims are among the personnel who have already cooperated and voluntarily turned over their mobile phones to investigators.
The Lakers hired Mancias and Mims because of their links to James. The new inquiry is expected to focus on their ties with Jones.
“The NBA engaged an independent law firm to investigate the allegations in the indictment once it was made public,” an NBA spokeswoman told The Athletic. “As is customary in these types of investigations, a variety of persons and organizations were asked to retain documents and records. “Everyone has been completely accommodating.
James, Mancias, and Mims have not been charged with a crime or even named by name in any federal charging document, but Jones was arrested last month and accused of providing secret injury information to gamblers about two top Lakers players. Prosecutors claim Jones used information provided to him by a team trainer on one occasion.
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