Maverick Carter, the longtime manager and business partner of basketball superstar LeBron James, has admitted to betting on NBA and other sports games through an illegal bookie, according to a report by The Washington Post.
Federal law enforcement records obtained by the outlet show that Carter made the admission during an interview with federal agents in November 2021. The agents were investigating a bookie named Wayne Nix, who recently pleaded guilty to charges stemming from his role in running an offshore sports-betting ring.
Carter reportedly told investigators that he had placed bets between $5,000 and $10,000 on approximately 20 football and basketball games. However, he emphasized that he “could not remember placing any bets on the [Los Angeles] Lakers” and that his gambling had nothing to do with James. He also denied placing bets for anyone else.
A spokesperson for Carter and James issued a statement confirming the interview with federal agents but denying any wrongdoing on Carter’s part. The statement noted that Carter was not the target of the investigation and that he was never charged with any crimes.
Nix reportedly had a clientele filled with athletes, but his connections ran deep in the basketball community. NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen admitted to placing at least one bet with Nix, and Nix was even seen golfing in a members-only tournament at Michael Jordan’s exclusive golf club in Florida, where other NBA executives played.
>>LeBron James says he didn’t know longtime manager Maverick Carter bet on NBA games pic.twitter.com/DUL8P40Mqb
— 🎌$3B net worth man fan🇯🇵 (@RSNAKE9) December 1, 2023
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The National Basketball Players Association allows business managers to bet on league games, but it has banned players, team officials, and league officials from doing so.
Carter has been linked with James since they were childhood friends in Akron, Ohio. They joined forces to create a media company titled Springhill Entertainment while also serving as minority owners in the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool, the English soccer club. Throughout his career, James and his team have remained scandal-free and have been praised for their business practices.
Maverick Carter was eating good off LeBron points pic.twitter.com/KMag68dBzd
— kingtisemedia (@kingtisemedia) November 30, 2023
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