US Trending News: What You Need to Know About Damon Jones’ Arrest

In a shocking turn of events, former NBA player Damon Jones has been arrested as part of a federal gambling investigation. The case involves allegations of orchestrating a large-scale operation that used wireless cheating technology to rig poker games across the United States. Among the accused are other former athletes, known as “face cards,” who were allegedly used to entice victims into these rigged games.

This article delves into the details of Jones’ arrest, his career, and the implications of this scandal on the NBA and beyond.

Who is Damon Jones?

Damon Jones is a former basketball player who played 11 seasons in the NBA for 10 different teams. He was most noted for his three-year stretch with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2005-08. Jones played overseas for a few seasons following his stint with the Bucks before finishing his professional basketball career in 2012 with the Reno Bighorns (now the Stockton Kings) of the NBA’s G League.

Jones’ NBA timeline includes:

New Jersey Nets (1999)
Boston Celtics (1999)
Golden State Warriors (1999)
Dallas Mavericks (1999-2000)
Vancouver Grizzlies (2000-01)
Detroit Pistons (2001-02)
Sacramento Kings (2002-03)
Milwaukee Bucks (2003-04)
Miami Heat (2004-05)
Cleveland Cavaliers (2005-08)
Milwaukee Bucks (2008-09)

Jones played in 114 career games across his 11-year playing career. Most of those came during the 2004-05 season, when he played 66 games for the Miami Heat. His per-game stats include:

Points: 6.6
Rebounds: 1.6
Assists: 2.7
Steals: 0.4
Blocks: 0
Field goal %: 40.7
3-point %: 39

Damon Jones’ Coaching Career

Jones spent three seasons coaching in the Cavaliers organization. He was an assistant for the G League’s Canton Charge for the 2015-16 campaign and then was a part of Tyronn Lue’s staff from 2016-18. Lue elevated Jones to the Cleveland bench for the 2016 NBA playoffs. The Cavaliers won the championship that year, earning Jones his first and only NBA title.

Damon Jones’ Net Worth and Career Earnings

There is no concrete information about Jones’ net worth, but Basketball Reference reports he earned just over $21.7 million during his professional basketball career.

The Federal Gambling Investigation

Jones and other former athletes, called “face cards,” were allegedly used to entice victims. The scheme specifically targeted victims, referred to as “fish,” who were often enticed to participate in these rigged games by the opportunity to play alongside former professional athletes, known as “face cards.”

“Among these face cards were Chauncey Billups, a former NBA player and currently the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, and Damon Jones, also a former NBA player and coach,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said in a news conference Thursday. “What the victims, or ‘fish,’ did not realize was that everyone else at the poker game, from the dealer to the other players, including the face cards, was complicit in the scam.”

Damon Jones and LeBron James

Jones is also known for his close friendship with LeBron James. During the 2022-23 season, Jones wasn’t on Lakers coach Darvin Ham’s staff. Instead, he was mostly around James, which also meant he was often around the team. He’d help rebound in drills but never had any actual responsibility within the organization. He didn’t participate in planning or strategy sessions.

According to a federal indictment unsealed Thursday in New York, Jones found out on the morning of Feb. 9, 2023, that “Player 3” would not play in the Lakers’ game against the Milwaukee Bucks that night and told an unnamed co-conspirator to place a “big bet” on the Bucks because he was out.

The Impact on the NBA

The scandal has raised questions about the integrity of the NBA and the role of insiders in sports betting. Jones’ alleged actions have sparked discussions about the need for stricter regulations and oversight in the league.

Conclusion

Damon Jones’ arrest is a significant development in the ongoing federal gambling investigation. The case highlights the potential risks of insider information and the need for transparency in sports betting. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen how this will affect the NBA and its players.