Top 5 Criminal Cases Involving NBA Players

The sports world, specifically the NBA, was rocked this week when it was announced that an FBI investigation, which included Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former player Damon Jones, had uncovered a large gambling operation involving these individuals. 

While many fans hold athletes to a higher standard, several NBA players, both current and former, have found themselves in hot water with the authorities over the years. 

Arguably, the most high-profile case in NBA history was Kobe Bryant's in 2003. During the offseason, Bryant made a trip to Eagle, Colorado, for a knee procedure that ultimately found him facing criminal charges. Accused and charged with sexual assault of a resort employee, Bryant’s case dominated headlines and Lakers games for the 2003–04 season, before prosecutors dropped the charges after the accuser refused to testify. While Bryant admitted to committing adultery, he adamantly maintained that the matter was consensual. The case not only impacted Bryant’s family life but also tarnished his public image and cost him millions in endorsements. Bryant would ultimately settle with the accuser privately.

While not an NBA player, this might be one of the most impactful cases in NBA history. From 2005–2007, referee Tim Donaghy wasn’t just officiating games; he was fixing them. He bet on games he worked and fed inside information to gamblers, ultimately ending up in federal prison for conspiracy. Donaghy claimed that corruption in the league involved more than just himself, which the NBA adamantly denied. For years, fans have been left questioning the legitimacy of the outcome of games and calls by referees. 

When Ron Artest (known now as Metta Sandiford-Artest) exploded into the stands at the Palace of Auburn Hills late in the November 19, 2004, game between the Pacers and Pistons, it set off a chain reaction. With less than a minute remaining in the game, an on-court altercation between Artest and Pistons forward Ben Wallace turned into a battle between multiple NBA players and spectators, known as the Malice at the Palace. In one of the most shocking moments in sports history, players and fans who were involved received assault and battery charges, resulting in probation, community service, and game suspensions. 

NBA players spend a lot of time on the road and, as such, often need to find ways to entertain themselves by playing cards, usually with a significant amount of money on the line. In 2009, Wizards guards Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton found themselves in a heated situation over a gambling debt. On December 24, 2009, both players brought firearms to the Wizards locker room, threatening each other. Both players would face felony charges. Arenas’ career would begin to decline, and Crittenton found himself dealing with murder charges a year later. 

In 2022, Hornets forward Miles Bridges was arrested on domestic violence charges after allegedly assaulting his wife in front of their two children. The result of the attack left his victim with a concussion, a broken nose, and multiple bruises. Pleading no contest to the charge, Bridges received three years' probation. The NBA also suspended Bridges for 30 games.