Damon Jones stood in Brooklyn federal court Thursday facing serious accusations. The 49-year-old former NBA player pleaded not guilty to charges in two separate federal cases.
Jones spent 11 seasons playing professional basketball. After retiring, he worked as an assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers. His attorney Kenneth Montgomery entered the pleas on his behalf.
Portland Trailblazers coach Chauncey Billups is also named in the charges. U.S. District Judge Ramon Reyes agreed to pause one case until November 24. This gives the defense time to review evidence and discuss potential plea arrangements.
Why NBA Betting Cases Keep Surfacing
The league can’t seem to escape betting scandals. Multiple investigations have targeted players in recent years, and this case adds two more names to that growing list.
Prosecutors say Jones and Billups participated in schemes that exploited their basketball connections. U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella accused them of turning professional basketball “into a criminal betting operation.” The schemes allegedly relied on insider access for profit.
These aren’t isolated incidents. The NBA has dealt with several betting-related probes since 2024, creating concerns about integrity across the sport.
What the Charges Actually Allege
The poker scheme involved sophisticated cheating methods. Prosecutors claim the operation used barcoded cards, modified shuffling machines and hidden cameras to control game outcomes.
Jones and Billups served as “face cards” in the scheme. Court documents explain that means they were recognizable players used to attract high-profile victims. Their fame helped lure targets into rigged games.
The charges include wire fraud conspiracy. If convicted, both Jones and Billups face up to 30 years in prison. That’s a maximum sentence, but it shows how seriously federal prosecutors view these allegations.
How This Fits a Troubling Pattern
The NBA has struggled with betting issues recently, and these cases keep piling up.
Terry Rozier of the Miami Heat faces his own legal troubles. Federal prosecutors launched an inquiry into suspicious betting activity tied to him in early 2025. The investigation claims “inside information” helped predict his early exit from a 2023 game. His arraignment is set for December 8.
The Jontay Porter case from 2024 set a harsh precedent. The former Toronto Raptors forward received a lifetime ban after league officials determined he’d provided insider health details to bettors. He also wagered on NBA games himself.
Billups returns to court November 24. The cases against both coaches haven’t gone to trial yet, so the legal process will take months to unfold. But the pattern is clear, the league faces ongoing threats from betting schemes that exploit insider knowledge.
