Maverick Carter, LeBron James' long-time manager and business partner, has reportedly confessed to engaging in illegal sports betting, including wagers on NBA games, through an unauthorized bookie, according to The Washington Post.
Based on federal law enforcement records obtained by the publication, Carter made this admission during an interview in November 2021. The federal agents were investigating Wayne Nix, a bookie who recently pleaded guilty to charges related to his involvement in operating an offshore sports-betting ring.
Carter is alleged to have placed bets ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 on 20 football and basketball games. However, he claimed to have no recollection of betting on Los Angeles Lakers games and asserted that his gambling activities were unrelated to LeBron James. Additionally, he clarified that he did not place bets on behalf of anyone else. In a statement, a spokesperson for Carter and James emphasized that the interview with federal law enforcement occurred once in 2021 before the legalization of sports betting in 38 states and the District of Columbia. The spokesperson asserted that Carter was not the focus of the investigation, cooperated fully, was never charged, and was not contacted again regarding the matter.
Wayne Nix reportedly had a clientele that included athletes, with NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen admitting to placing at least one bet with him. Nix was even spotted participating in a members-only golf tournament at Michael Jordan's exclusive golf club in Florida, where other NBA executives were present.
While the National Basketball Players Association permits business managers to bet on league games, players, team officials, and league officials are prohibited from engaging in such activities.
Maverick Carter has been associated with LeBron James since their childhood in Akron, Ohio. They collaborated to establish the media company Springhill Entertainment and became minority owners of the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool, the English soccer club. Throughout their careers, James and Carter have maintained a reputation free from scandals and have been commended for their ethical business practices.
