Former NBA star avoided a jail sentence on Tuesday after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor gun possession charge in Jackson County, Indiana. The court records show that as part of a plea deal, the former NBA player admitted to unlawful carrying of a handgun. The charges of marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia were dismissed.
The incident leading to the arrest occurred in January when police received a report of a black 2022 Tesla driving recklessly on I-65 South between Indianapolis and Louisville. Upon stopping the vehicle, a state trooper detected the smell of marijuana. Subsequent search of the car revealed a firearm, drug paraphernalia, and suspected marijuana. A juvenile who was also in the vehicle at the time was released to a family member.
As a result of the guilty plea, the ex-NBA player was placed on probation for 180 days and was ordered to cover all costs related to the case. The retired four-time All-Star guard and two-time NBA champion announced his retirement in April after a successful 16-season career. Throughout his time in the league, he played for nine different teams and maintained career averages of 9.8 points, 7.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals.
