Could LeBron lose his GOAT Status?

Insider sports gambling is nothing new. As early as 1919, the Major League Baseball team Chicago White Sox had been at the center of a major scandal. Players intentionally lost the World Series final against the Cincinnati Reds to earn massive payouts from gamblers upwards of $1,500,000 per game. At the time, sports gambling was illegal, yet the potential profits tempted players to manipulate outcomes, shaking public confidence in the integrity of professional sports. With the recent legalization of this practice in many states, opportunities for abuse have grown exponentially. While legalization has created regulated markets, it has incentivized individuals to exploit inside information, and some have taken these opportunities far beyond what is legal and moral.

On October 23rd, 2025, this longstanding issue resurfaced when current and former National Basketball Association (NBA) players and a coach were among 34 people arrested in connection with two federal investigations. These investigations revealed alleged schemes involving rigged sports betting and poker games. Notable people arrested were current Miami Heat player Terry Rozier, Hall of Fame and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, and former player and shooting coach of LeBron James, Damon Jones.

One investigation focused on an alleged illegal sports gambling scheme that relied on insider NBA information. Rozier and Jones informed other defendants of a player’s health and intention to change their performance, allowing these defendants within their social circle to earn huge payouts. This conspiracy resulted in the defendants immorally and illegally obtaining large sums of money and corrupting the results of NBA games.

The other investigation involves high-stakes poker games tied to the Mafia, Billups, and Jones. Mafia families from New York City hosted national illegal poker rings with rigged X-ray tables, high-tech glasses, and cards. Billups and Jones lured wealthy players, known as “fish,” into rigged games from the Hamptons to Las Vegas.

Some may be wondering: how does this affect LeBron’s legacy? While LeBron James himself has not been named in the investigation, the involvement of his former shooting coach certainly raises questions. For a player whose career has been defined by his performance and excellence on the basketball court, any proximity to a scandal invites scrutiny. However, unless further evidence connects LeBron to this scandal, his legacy as the GOAT of basketball can remain intact.