Meiji: Two close associates of James are cooperating with the league in its investigation of illegal investments.
6686 Sports, November 16th, TA reporters Sam Amick, Joe Vardon and Mike Vorkunov jointly issued an article today, reporting on the latest developments in the NBA's illegal investment competition incident.
According to reports from three of them: Six league sources revealed that the NBA has asked multiple teams, including the Lakers, to submit documents and other materials as part of the league's investigation into illegal investment competitions. Under pressure from congressional scrutiny, the coalition is seeking more information related to federal charges filed last month by the U.S. Justice Department.
Last month, relevant House and Senate committees asked the NBA why the league did not find credible evidence that players and coaches were suspected of using private information to illegally invest in games before Heat guard Rozier and Trail Blazers coach Billups were arrested and charged. NBA officials said in testimony before a congressional committee that they are taking the matter seriously and have begun contacting the teams involved through the outside law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to request cellphones and other related items.
As former NBA player and James’ former shooting coach Damon Jones is accused of selling Lakers players’ injury information to others, investigators from the law firm are expected to request documents from at least 10 Lakers employees, including mobile phones and call records. According to sources, Lakers assistant trainer Mike Mancias and executive director Randy Mims have voluntarily submitted their phones and cooperated with the investigation.
Both Mike Mancias and Randy Mims work for the Lakers because of their close relationship with James: 48-year-old Mike Mancias has been James' personal trainer for about 20 years; while 50-year-old Randy Mims has had a close relationship with James since high school. The new focus of the league's investigation includes the connection between the two and Damon Jones, but currently, neither James nor the two have been charged with a crime and have not been named in any federal complaint.
