Ex-NBA player who allegedly gave suspected tip on LeBron James plans to reverse plea in gambling case: report

Longtime NBA veteran Kevin Love talked to Fox News Digital about the ‘stain’ of gambling in professional sports and hopes for a resolution.

Former NBA player and coach Damon Jones reportedly plans to change his plea to guilty on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering from separate illegal gambling cases. 

ABC News reported that Jones has requested a change-of-plea hearing after originally pleading not guilty in November.

Jones' attorney, Kenneth Montgomery, told the outlet Jones "is not cooperating."

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LeBron James talks with former Cavaliers teammate Damon Jones during an off-day practice before Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland June 6, 2017. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle/Getty Images)

Jones is alleged to have told someone close to him that a "prominent" player on the Los Angeles Lakers, widely speculated to be LeBron James, would not play Feb. 9, 2023, before the information was public. Jones was an assistant for the team at the time.

James did not play in the game due to an ankle injury. The game was played two days after James scored 38 points to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer.

Jones also allegedly gave apparent inside information about another "one of the Lakers' best players" 11 months later, speculated to be Anthony Davis, regarding an injury that was likely to affect his performance. 

That ultimately backfired because the player "performed well," and the Lakers won, according to authorities.

A sketch of former NBA player Damon Jones, left, with attorney Kenneth Montgomery standing before Judge Ramon Reyes in federal court in New York Nov. 6, 2025. Jones pleaded not guilty to