Firm seeks records from players, teams in NBA gambling investigation - ESPN

An independent law firm hired by the NBA has requested records from individuals and teams as part of the league's investigation into the illegal gambling allegations laid out in a federal indictment that resulted in the arrests of Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former player and coach Damon Jones, an NBA spokesperson confirmed to ESPN.

The investigation's latest steps were first reported Saturday by The Athletic.

«The NBA engaged an independent law firm to investigate the allegations in the indictment once it was made public,» a league spokesperson told ESPN and other outlets in a statement. «As is standard in these kinds of investigations, a number of different individual and organizations were asked to preserve documents and records. Everyone has been fully cooperative.»

Multiple teams have been contacted by the investigators, including the Los Angeles Lakers, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.

Lakers assistant trainer Mike Mancias and executive administrator Randy Mims are among approximately a dozen team employees who have been contacted and are cooperating with the investigation, according to the sources. The Athletic reported that Mancias and Mims voluntarily gave their cell phones to investigators.

Mancias, Mims and Jones have long relationships with LeBron James, who is not named in the indictment and has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

Federal prosecutors accused Jones of selling non-public injury information about Lakers players to gamblers during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, claiming in one case that he got the details from a team trainer.

Prosecutors described Jones as an unofficial assistant coach for the Lakers during the 2022-23 season in the indictment. The following season, prosecutors allege