COMING CLEAN LeBron James’ manager and childhood friend Maverick Carter admits to using illegal bookie to bet thousands on NBA games

LEBRON James’ longtime manager has reportedly admitted to using an illegal bookie to bet thousands of dollars on NBA games.

Maverick Carter, 42, a business partner and longtime childhood friend to the Los Angeles Lakers power forward, confessed to the sports betting when interviewed by federal agents in November 2021.

LeBron James and manager Maverick Carter are longtime business partners and friends (circa 2016)Credit: Getty

Carter was asked by federal agents about potential connections to a sports betting ring run by bookie Wayne NixCredit: Getty

The agents spoke with Carter during their investigation into bookie Wayne Nix and several others, who pleaded guilty to several charges involving an off-shore sports betting ring, per federal records obtained by The Washington Post.

Several interviews were conducted by Homeland Security and the IRS starting in September 2021 through “non-target witnesses,” including Carter and Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen, among others, according to court records obtained by the publication.

A month later, in October of the same year, agents contacted Carter through a video interview along with his two attorneys.

Agents showed Carter several pictures of people allegedly involved in the betting operation, and the business manager said he recognized Nix, according to an investigative report on the interview obtained by The Washington Post.

Carter said he’d played cards with Nix in Las Vegas a few times and met him through a friend referred to as “Jeff” from Ohio, the documents revealed.

He also told agents he “could not remember placing any bets on the Lakers.”

Adam Mendelsohn, a spokesperson for Carter and James, also confirmed that the interview took place.

“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,” Mendelsohn told The Washington Post.

“Mr. Carter was not the target of the investigation, cooperated, was never charged, and never contacted again on the matter.”

Mendelsohn would also not answer questions about James, noting that the gambling made by Carter “has nothing to do with him.”

Carter also denied placing bets for anyone but himself during the interview, according to federal documents.

The bets Carter did make were noted by his attorneys in at least 20 separate instances through football and basketball games, per the interview records.

Amounts per bet ranged from $5,000 to $10,000.

Additionally, an indictment in the case against Nix stated that in November 2019, the bookie said a “business manager for a professional basketball player” could increase his wagers to $25,000, according to claims from Edon Kagasoff, Nix’s partner.

The business manager mentioned by Kagasoff was not named.

Strict policies have been laid out in the past by the NBA, barring any players, teams, or league officials from gambling on games.

The association does not have any rules against business managers’ betting.

Although the NBA and its players’ union does restrict agents from betting on games.

When asked for comment by The Washington Post, both the NBA and the players union declined.

Details revealed by prosecutors in the case against Nix and several others showed that the bookie had a full client list of prominent athletes across several sports.

Over 1,000 were referenced as allegedly part of the betting operations, but most were not identified.

Even so, the NBA remained the place where Nix had the deepest connections, according to previously unreported records obtained by the publication.

The betting ring reportedly involved a vast network of American-based bookies that used a Costa Rican website and call center to place bets on sports in the States.

Sentencing for Nix has been delayed several times.

The case and reports of Carter’s involvement come as the NBA and professional sports industry embrace betting.

The U.S. Sun has contacted the NBA for further comment on the reports of Carter’s sports betting.

https://www.the-sun.com/sport/9757512/lebron-james-manager-maverick-carter-admits-illegal-bookie/