Courtesy of Casey Kaye, fanrumor
Maverick Carter, the manager of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, disclosed to federal agents in 2021 that he had engaged in illegal sports betting on NBA games, according to The Washington Post.
In his admission during a November 2021 interview, Carter stated that he couldn’t recall placing bets on Lakers games and denied making wagers for others. This information comes from a report summarizing the interview that was reviewed by The Washington Post.
Carter’s spokesperson, Adam Mendelsohn, clarified that this interview occurred before sports betting was legalized in 38 states and the District of Columbia. Carter cooperated with the investigation, was not charged, and was not contacted further regarding the matter.
According to the report, Carter admitted to placing around 20 bets on football and basketball games in a year, with each bet ranging from $5,000 to $10,000.
While the NBA prohibits players, team officials, and league officials from betting on league games, neither the league nor the National Basketball Players Association includes business managers in this rule.
Wayne Nix, a former minor league baseball player, pleaded guilty in April 2022 to running an illegal sports gambling business and filing a false tax return. The operation, which ran for two decades, reportedly involved current and former professional athletes, including Scottie Pippen and Yasiel Puig.
Puig is scheduled to stand trial in January. LeBron James, commenting on the situation after a recent game, stated that Maverick Carter is independent and that gambling is legal, emphasizing that Carter has no affiliation with the NBA or NFL and can make his own choices.
