*Despite a “colossal streak of bad luck,” a bit of the opposite has come to pass for former Boston Celtics forward Glen “Big Baby” Davis. The Associated Press reports the athlete, who is set to serve a three-year prison term for a fraud conviction, was granted a reprieve from the start of his sentence by Judge Valerie E. Caproni during a court hearing on Aug. 28.
The order follows a request made by attorney Brendan White the day before to delay the sentence for Davis, citing a Hollywood production company’s need to finish a film project involving his client.
White wrote that delays in the project stemmed from difficulties in arranging interviews with professional teammates and colleagues who needed to speak with Davis on film. The project is a documentary on Davis’ life.
The ex-NBA standout was scheduled to begin serving his three-year, four-month stint for defrauding NBA players involved with the NBA Players’ Health and Benefit Welfare Plan and their families of more than $5 million.
In her order granting postponement, Caproni pushed back Davis’ deadline to report to prison on Sept. 1 to start his seven-week sentence, writing that he “owes significant restitution” to a victim and she hopes that “optimism about the financial rewards of the film is warranted.”
Davis was among about two dozen former NBA players and others, including doctors, who were convicted over the last few years of cheating, the AP noted. In his client’s defense, White referenced revenue from the documentary, which he said “could go a long way” toward satisfying $80,000 in restitution.
Before his legal drama, Davis was known for leading Louisiana State University to the 2006 NCAA championship game before turning pro in 2007. During his time in the NBA, the 38-year-old secured a championship with the Celtics in 2008 as well as played for the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Clippers before the end of his pro balling days in 2015.
Appearing at a May 9 sentencing, Davis mentioned an injury that derailed his career and its impact on him.
“I’ve been struggling because basketball was taken from me,” Davis said, regarding his status for the past five or six years. “That’s all I know. I was an expert at that. But when I lost basketball, I lost myself.”
Building on her client’s argument at sentencing, Davis’ lawyer, Sabrina Shroff, stated that Davis faced a “colossal streak of bad luck.” So much so that she added Davis was so destitute that he once asked her for $800 so he could keep his phone working.
At the time, Caproni touched on the fact that Davis hadn’t fully cooperated with Probation Department officers and hadn’t taken steps to address his problems.
The effect of the situation was highlighted by Ryan Finkel, a federal prosecutor who informed the judge of Davis’ championship status at sentencing while voicing how Big Baby is “probably the most successful basketball player” caught in the insurance conspiracy.
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