Maverick Carter, a longtime close friend and business parter of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, reportedly admitted in 2021 to federal investigators that he placed several bets on NBA games with an illegal bookmaker.
Adam Mendelsohn, Carter and James’ spokesperson, issued a statement explaining the situation. Carter was not the subject of a criminal probe and James had nothing to do with the bets.
“In 2021 and before 38 states and the District of Columbia legalized sports betting, Maverick Carter was interviewed a single time by federal law enforcement regarding their investigation into Wayne Nix,” the statement said. “Mr. Carter was not the target of the investigation, cooperated, was never charged, and never contacted again on the matter.”
The investigation with which Carter cooperated by admitting to placing illegal bets was of bookmaker Wayne Nix, who last year pleaded guilty to filing false tax returns and operating a huge offshore gambling ring, according to the Washington Post.
How much money did Maverick Carter bet?
Carter reportedly told federal law enforcement that he bet $5,000-$10,000 per game over the course of a year, equaling about 20 different wagers on basketball or football.
Players and agents are not allowed to bet on NBA games, but Carter is a business manager, so the rules do not apply to him.
Carter reportedly told the feds that he “could not remember placing any bets on the Lakers.”