Former NBA guard and assistant coach Damon Jones intends to change his plea to guilty on federal charges tied to illegal sports betting, according to reports by The Athletic and The Associated Press.
Jones, arrested last November in two separate indictments alleging wire fraud conspiracy and money-laundering conspiracy, is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn on April 28, while a change-of-plea hearing is also listed for May 6. Prosecutors say he profited from a fixed poker game and supplied confidential information to gamblers, including a February 9, 2023 Lakers-Bucks matchup in which LeBron James was a late scratch. A text message cited by prosecutors shows Jones telling a co-conspirator to “get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out.” Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Heat guard Terry Rozier face related charges in the same investigation.
NBA explores prediction-market partnerships
The league is negotiating with Kalshi and Polymarket to launch regulated prediction markets, sources told Front Office Sports. The NBA is seeking authority over which markets are offered and wants systems to flag unusual trading. The NHL already works with both platforms, while MLB signed an exclusive deal with Polymarket.
Union targets 65-game eligibility rule
Despite successful appeals this week by Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham, the National Basketball Players Association is pressing to scrap or modify the 65-game minimum for award eligibility, The Athletic reported. A league source said the policy originated from the NBA and was ultimately accepted by the union, which now opposes it.
First-time coaching candidates emerge
Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney, Heat assistant Chris Quinn, and Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori headline a list of prospective first-time NBA head coaches, according to a separate survey by The Athletic.
Viewership climbs in first season of new media deal
The NBA announced that average game audiences across ABC/ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, NBC/Peacock, and NBA TV rose 35 percent in the 2025-26 season, the inaugural year of the league’s $76 billion media rights agreements. Roughly 170 million U.S. viewers watched games on those platforms, the highest tally in 24 years and an 86 percent jump over last season.
Source: Hoops Rumors
