By Dan Woike, Mike Vorkunov, Joe Vardon and Mike Prada

Damon Jones, who had restricted access to the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2022-23 season to work with LeBron James, is alleged to have shared non-public information about James with gamblers just days after James set the league’s all-time scoring record.

The Feb. 9, 2023, game between the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers referenced in the FBI’s investigation into sports betting was one that James did not play in. He was ruled out due to ankle soreness. The game came two days after James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

According to the indictment, Jones, a friend of James’ who was not an employee of the Lakers, sold or tried to profit from non-public information so that others could bet on it, including alleged co-conspirators Eric Earnest and Marves Fairley. It was about who would not be playing or if they would pull themselves out of games early.

A league source with knowledge of the situation told The Athletic that James was unaware that Jones shared information about his playing status.

The Lakers declined to comment when reached by The Athletic.

Jones also shared information on another top Lakers player, the indictment said, ahead of a January 15, 2024, game after he learned from a trainer that the player was hurt and his minutes or performance would be affected. Marves Fairley, another defendant, bet $100,000 against the Lakers for this game, and the injury report simply said that the player was probable.

The Lakers, however, won the game, and the player played to form. Therefore, Fairley asked Jones to repay him the $2,500 he was paid for the information.

Before the Feb. 9, 2023, Lakers game against the Bucks, Jones texted an unnamed co-conspirator that a player was out and they should bet the Bucks. The player was not yet on the injury report. He also gave information on the 2023-24 Lakers, including Player 4, who the DOJ said was one of the Lakers’ best players that season.

James also did not play in the Lakers’ next two games before returning in the team’s final game before the All-Star break on Feb. 15, 2023.

Jones wasn’t an official member of the Lakers’ coaching staff during the 2022-23 season, but he did work with James during his pregame workouts hours before tip-off. He also had access to the team’s locker room, planes and hotels.

Jones played with James in Cleveland for three seasons between 2005 and 2008.