You wouldn’t say the past three years have been the finest of former NBA All-Star Antoine Walker’s career. After pleading guilty for failing to pay $770,000 in gambling losses in June last year because of felony bad check charges – Walker is due to stand before a state court judge in Nevada on Thursday.
A prosecutor said 35-year-old Walker, who filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation in 2010, will not face a prison term. Instead he will be on probation, working toward repaying the debt he owes to the Planet Hollywood, Red Rock Casino Resort, and Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip. So it could be worse.
Still, it must be a major shock to the system since his NBA hay day – back when he used to saunter around with a 70+ entourage. (Ahh those were the days; makes you wonder where all his money went.) Once a three-time All-Star with the Boston Celtics – winning 2006 NBA championship with the Miami Heat – Walker sank so low last year that he offered up his diamond-encrusted Miami Heat championship ring to the highest bidder.
It’s not all bad though – he might not have played NBA since 2008, but he’s now signed with the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League. If that all goes to pot, he could always follow in the footsteps of past NBA – now acting professionals – Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal, Rick Fox or Michel Jordan, and earn himself a bit of dosh in the acting business?
Or if not, he can take solace in that fact he’s not the only NBA star to fall into debt. We reported in October that ’70s basketball legend Dr J was filed with a lawsuit after failing to pay an outstanding loan of $200,000. Maybe debt is just something most All Star NBA’ers will encounter at some point in their debauched, money squandering lives?
