Report: NBA is collecting phones from multiple team employees as it digs into illegal gambling

• The NBA is continuing to search for a co-conspirator in what could prove to be its biggest gambling scandal in its history
• League investigators are obtaining cell phones and other relevant documents from team employees, with the Lakers among the worst affected
• The NBA is not yet sure how far-reaching the illegal gambling ring could be, and if all parties involved have been named

The ongoing NBA scandal that has already involved several prominent insiders and at least one former player is unlikely to blow over like a blip on the radar. In fact, investigators, the NBA included, are determined to get to the bottom of things.

NBA continues to dig, hoping to catch co-conspirators

According to a newly surfaced report, the NBA has requested documents and cell phones from employees from multiple teams in the association’s franchises. The original news was broken by The Athletic, which first reported on the development.

"The NBA engaged an independent law firm to investigate the allegations in the indictment once it was made public. As is standard in these kinds of investigations, a number of different individuals and organizations were asked to preserve documents and records. Everyone has been fully cooperative," a statement by the NBA to The Athletic read.

Based on what is known right now, multiple teams have been impacted, as the association fears deeply-rooted corruption. The Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James’ team, has reportedly been among the worst affected, with 10 staffers asked to hand over relevant documents and cell phones to investigators.

Randy Mims, the Lakers’ executive administrator, and assistant trainer Mike Mancias were among those named by the NBA, and asked to hand over relevant documentation and phones.

With Congressional scrutiny on the issue revving up, and the arrests of Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Damon Jones, the NBA has been casting a wide net to catch anyone who may have been privy to the corruption or, worse still, participated willingly.

Major sports franchises in the United States consider it a likewise transgression to be aware of ongoing corruption but fail to report it. The fact that the Lakers are getting scrutinized to the extent they are is not surprising.

The Lakers are among the worst-impacted teams in the NBA probe

Jones is involved in a rigged poker game that saw athletes brought to a private location supposedly run by the Mafia, where many were duped out of money. He is also supposedly involved in an illegal betting ring, also run by the same criminals.

Jones was also a teammate of James’ in the Cavaliers, while also coaching him later on. He is suspected of having leaked information about James’ availability and health to sports gamblers to influence betting outcomes.

The NBA is hardly the only sport to have been hit in a high-profile corruption sting, with the MLB and UFC all reeling from suspected match-fixing committed by some of their best athletes.

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