Maverick Carter attends an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers. (PHOTO: AP)
NBA superstar LeBron James’ business partner Maverick Carter placed approximately 20 bets on football and basketball games over the course of a year, with each bet ranging from $5,000 to $10,000.
Carter also admitted that the bets were made on the matches through an illegal bookie, according to media reports in USA.
Maverick Carter has been a long-time friend-turned-associate for LeBron James. They know each other since their Akron, Ohio days. Besides being LeBron James’ business partner, Carter also co-owns SpringHill Company, an entertainment and production company, with the NBA star.
Maverick Carter is said to have made the revelation to federal investigators, according to a report on The Washington Post on Thursday. The revelations were made during an interview as part of an investigation of bookie Wayne Nix, according to the Post report. The report also quoted a spokesman for Carter and LeBron confirming that the interview occurred in 2021.
“Mr. Carter was not the target of the investigation, cooperated, was never charged, and never contacted again on the matter,” spokesman Adam Mendelsohn said in a statement provided to the newspaper.
The report added that when he was asked if he had placed any bets on the Los Angeles Lakers games, he had claimed he could not remember placing any bets on the Lakers. The Los Angeles-based franchise has been home to LeBron since 2018, when he moved there from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
He helped the team to its 17th NBA Championship after the pandemic. The LA franchise is now tied for most NBA championships won with their arch-rivals, Boston Celtics.
James is currently the NBA’s career scoring leader. The Lakers are currently seventh in the NBA’s Western Conference after playing 20 games.
Meanwhile, there was some good news on the personal front for the NBA star with his son, Bronny James, getting clearance from doctors to return to playing basketball. The 19-year-old has spent four months away from action after suffering a cardiac arrest.
The Associated Press reported that the Southern California freshman is expected to make his collegiate debut soon.
A James family spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday that Bronny will have a final evaluation with USC staff this week. He is expected to resume practice next week.
“The heart specialists have cleared him, which is great and now it’s a matter of getting him back on the court next week hopefully to begin working out with the team full contact,” coach Andy Enfield said on Thursday after the team’s practice session.
