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A number of NBA stars are known to have a “bad-boy” reputation on court, which is usually due to their playing style, or tendency to get into altercations. However, the league's long history has also seen a number of stars getting into trouble with the law off-court.
In most cases, the NBA player in question escaped with community service and fines, with notable players such as Carmelo Anthony and Jason Kidd getting away without having to spend time in jail, despite being judged guilty.
In this article, we look at 5 NBA players who actually ended up spending time in prison:
NBA Players who have been to prison
Back in 2001, Jason Kidd was arrested and pleaded guilty to “domestic abuse” during his first marriage. The 10-time All-Star was asked to attend anger-management classes for six months, which he continued even after the term was over.
Portland Trail Blazers’ Carmelo Anthony was arrested in 2008 and pleaded guilty to drinking under the influence of alcohol. He was charged with community service and was charged legal fees for the trial.
The following article does not include cases where the NBA players did not actually go to prison
#5 J. R. Smith
Having won two NBA Championships alongside LeBron James throughout his career, J.R. Smith has achieved more than most players do. Back in 2007, however, when the shooting guard was playing his trade for the Denver Nuggets, J.R. Smith was involved in a car accident in which he, along with another person, was severely hurt.
In 2009, Smith plead guilty to running a stop-sign that led to the accident, and was charged with 90 days in prison. He ended up spending only 30 days as two-thirds of the sentence was suspended in favor of community service.
Also Read: Who is Delonte West’s Wife, Caressa Suzzette Madden?
#4 Delonte West
Delonte West had a successful NBA career as a versatile guard and played for the likes of the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers in a career that spanned almost a decade. However, West was known to be a controversial figure and was the owner of multiple firearms.
In 2009, he was pulled over for a traffic violation while driving a motorbike, and was found with not one but three firearms in his possession. Delonte West was sentenced to prison and later placed under house arrest. He is another NBA star who got away with a crime that ordinary people might have faced more severe consequences for.
Also Read: How much is Delonte West’s Net Worth in 2021?
#3 Metta World Peace
An NBA champion with the LA Lakers in 2010, it is well known that Metta World Peace, or Ron Artest, was an intensely controversial figure throughout his NBA career. The forward was a heavy drinker and was fined by the Chicago Bulls for openly drinking multiple times.
He was seen breaking a camera during halftime of a 2004 regular-season game, and his on-court defensive skills and determination were an extension of his volatile persona.
In 2007, he was charged and arrested for domestic violence. The 2004 NBA All-Star was sentenced to 10 days of prison and 100 hours of community service for his actions. Metta World Peace was also the player who sparked off the infamous Pacers-Pistons "Malice in the Palace" riot in 2004 after fouling Ben Wallace late in the game.
#2 William Bedford
William Bedford was the Phoenix Suns’ 6th overall pick of the 1986 NBA Draft and played for only six seasons. He played alongside the likes of Dennis Rodman and Isiah Thomas, and won the NBA Championship in 1990.
Nearly a decade after the end of his NBA career, Bedford got into police trouble. He was caught multiple times with illegal narcotics and received a 10-year sentence in 2003. Bedford has since served his time and now leads a reformed life, while working as a basketball coach.
#1 Allen Iverson
Even before Allen Iverson burst onto the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers back in 1996, he was involved in a high school brawl that ended with multiple students being sentenced to prison. Iverson was later acquitted, but only after he had already spent four months in jail.
The 10-time All-Star was a controversial figure in the NBA and was acquitted for his role in the brawl due to a lack of evidence. In 1997, he was caught carrying a weapon and illegal narcotics which also led to a guilty plea. Eventually, Iverson escaped with only community service. He is arguably the most famous NBA star who has previously spent time in prison.
