Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones has requested a change-of-plea hearing in his federal sports betting case, with the hearing scheduled for 28 April in Brooklyn federal court.
Jones, 49, had previously pleaded not guilty to charges alleging he provided nonpublic player information to a network of sports bettors.
Federal prosecutors have been asked to file documentation outlining what charges Jones intends to plead to by the end of next week.
His attorney, Kenneth Montgomery, confirmed the development but stated that Jones "is not cooperating" with prosecutors.
Jones is set to become the first defendant to signal a guilty plea in a gambling sweep that resulted in the arrests of more than 30 individuals in October 2025, including alleged organised crime figures and other basketball-connected defendants.
Among those charged alongside Jones are Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, who has pleaded not guilty and is seeking dismissal of his charges, and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups.
According to prosecutors, Jones used an informal affiliation with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2022-23 season to obtain nonpublic injury information about players, which he then sold to co-defendants to facilitate illegal bets.
In one cited incident from February 2023, Jones allegedly texted a co-conspirator urging a large bet on the Milwaukee Bucks ahead of a game against the Lakers, referencing a player – widely believed to be LeBron James – who had not yet been listed on the injury report.
Jones also faces a separate indictment relating to allegedly rigged poker games, to which he has also previously pleaded not guilty. He remains free on bail.
The broader federal investigation has already resulted in multiple charges and convictions, highlighting increasing regulatory and legal scrutiny around insider information in sports betting
