Report: Ex-Cav Damon Jones used to gamble on card games during career

Last month, a crackdown on allegedly rigged poker games and illegal sports betting rocked the NBA world, and former Cleveland Cavaliers player and assistant coach Damon Jones found himself mixed up in the controversy. He was one of several current or former NBA figures to be arrested, with Jones being charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering.

As the legal situation continues to unfold, more information has surfaced regarding Jones’ gambling habits while he was still playing in the NBA. Allegedly, he used to gamble on card games “after practices, on team flights and around tables in hotel suites” during his pro career.

“He was also a gambler,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst wrote.

“Jones was a regular in card games after practices, on team flights and around tables in hotel suites on road trips.

“‘Sometimes he won, sometimes he lost. He always talked,’ one former teammate says. ‘Most of the time he was a good hang. He was mostly harmless.'”

Jones played for a whopping 10 NBA teams across his 11 seasons in the league, so it’s possible he played card games with a whole lot of different NBA players over the years. But he spent more time in Cleveland than with any other team, as he logged 209 regular-season games with the Cavaliers across three seasons. He played a legitimate role and shot 39.2 percent on 3s in that span.

The legal hot water Jones finds himself in is tied partly to allegations that he leaked non-public info to bettors regarding the injury statuses of stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Jones served as an unofficial member of Darvin Ham’s coaching staff on the Los Angeles Lakers back in the 2022-23 season.

It’s also alleged that Jones had ties to a Mafia-led scheme that rigged poker games. But it’s of note that Jones pleaded not guilty to both counts earlier this month.

All signs seem to point to the possibility that Jones could face severe consequences in due time for his supposed involvement in rigged poker games and illicit gambling. Still, Cavaliers fans should hope that he isn’t actually guilty of the wrongdoing he’s accused of committing, as any unfortunate verdict from Jones’ situation would likely only bring negative attention to the franchise.