The Los Angeles Lakers have been included in the NBA’s widening federal investigation into illicit sports betting and gambling involving prominent athletes. According to six league sources cited by The Athletic, the league has requested records and personal property from multiple teams, including the Lakers, as part of its compliance with federal authorities.
Lakers associate trainer Mike Mancias and executive administrator Randy Mims have already cooperated, voluntarily handing over their mobile phones to investigators. The NBA’s request reportedly extends to documents and devices from several staff members, reflecting the league’s effort to demonstrate seriousness under congressional scrutiny. The probe intensified after the Department of Justice filed criminal charges last month against Miami Heat forward Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups. Both were accused of participating in schemes tied to underground gambling operations.
Congressional committees questioned the NBA about its failure to detect reliable evidence of insider involvement, prompting the league to seek additional information. NBA officials, working through the outside legal firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, began contacting clubs to secure access to cell phones and other materials.
Investigators Widen Scope to Lakers Staff After Damon Jones Charges
Sources told The Athletic that investigators are expected to request documents from at least ten Lakers employees, following charges against Damon Jones, a former NBA player and LeBron James’ ex‑shooting coach who had special access to the team.
The broader federal investigation, made public in October 2025, alleges that current and former players, coaches, and organized crime networks are tied to a large‑scale sports‑betting and money‑laundering operation. Among the accusations are that insiders exploited confidential injury, lineup, and performance data to place fraudulent bets on NBA games.
Billups has been linked to a mafia‑backed underground poker ring, while Rozier allegedly told acquaintances he would leave games early to influence prop bets. These revelations have shaken the league, raising questions about integrity and oversight.
