Maverick Carter, the manager and business partner of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, told federal agents in 2021 that he placed bets on NBA games through an illegal bookmaker, The Washington Post reported Thursday.
Carter told federal agents when he admitted in November 2021 that he “did not remember placing any bets” on the Lakers and denied placing bets on other teams, according to an interview summary reviewed by The Washington Post. .
Adam Mendelsohn, a spokesman for Carter and James, said in a statement: “In 2021, before 38 states and the District of Columbia legalized sports betting, Maverick Carter spoke to Wayne about ·Nix interviewed once by federal law enforcement as part of investigation.” Washington Post. “Mr. Carter was not a target of the investigation, was cooperative, was never charged, and was never contacted again regarding this matter.”
Carter said he placed about 20 bets on football and basketball games over the course of a year, ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 each, according to reports reviewed by The Washington Post.
The NBA prohibits players, team officials and league officials from betting on league games, and the National Basketball Players Association includes agents, but not business managers, in its rules.
Nix, a former minor league baseball player, pleaded guilty in April 2022 to conspiring to operate an illegal sports gambling business and filing false tax returns. Prosecutors said the Knicks operation spanned two decades and included current and former professional athletes as customers or employees, including Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen (per The Washington Post) and former MLB Major league outfielder Yasiel Puig, who changed his plea to not guilty on federal charges. Accused of lying to law enforcement officials about sports bets he made with illegal gambling operators.
Puig’s trial is scheduled for January.