At that time, Jones was a volunteer member of the Lakers' coaching staff at the behest of former head coach Darvin Ham. Before that particular game, Jones reportedly texted one of his co-conspirators to place a bet on the Bucks because LeBron James would not be playing that night, although he was available.

Damon Jones and LeBron James have reportedly been friends since their time playing for the Cavaliers together in the mid-2000s.

Jones is a former basketball player who played 11 seasons in the NBA. The 6-4 combo guard went undrafted out of Houston in 1997 after a four-year career with the Cougars and began his playing career with the International Basketball Association's Black Hills Posse in 1997.

Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier and Damon Jones were taken into custody Thursday in connection with alleged illegal gambling operations dating back to 2019.

Jones was arrested on Thursday on two indictments alleging his involvement in illegal sports gambling and poker games.

In addition to Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, former NBA player and coach Damon Jones was arrested.

"He’s a really funny dude. He’s a great storyteller. But he was never a part of the staff," a team source said of Jones.

Former NBA guard and assistant coach Damon Jones was arrested Thursday by the FBI as part of a wide-ranging investigation into illegal sports betting and rigged card games, which also involves Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier .

Jones joined the Cavaliers as an informal shooting assistant in 2014 before taking on an assistant role with the team's G League affiliate, the Canton Charge, in 2015-16. Lue, who replaced David Blatt as head coach of the Cavaliers in January 2016, added Jones to his NBA staff ahead of the 2016 playoffs and kept him on through 2018.