Former NBA player Glen “Big Baby” Davis expressed frustration over the federal investigation that led to his imprisonment, questioning why he received a prison sentence while other retired players mentioned in the case, including former Boston Celtics teammates Kendrick Perkins and Tony Allen, remained free.
Davis made the comments during an appearance on Locked In with Ian Bick, as reported by ClutchPoints. He said he believed federal investigators chose him to serve as an example among the large number of people investigated in the case.
“They literally wanted to make me out to be an example. There was a lot of people that got investigated,” Davis said.
Davis specifically pointed to Perkins and Allen, noting that Perkins continues to work as an ESPN analyst while Allen, whom Davis described as the third person on the indictment with his wife, did not serve prison time.
“Kendrick Perkins, you see him on ESPN. Tony Allen—he was literally the third person on the indictment, with his wife. He’s not walking in jail. Darius Miles—he’s not walking in jail,” Davis said.
“And these guys got money, like thousands of dollars. How’d I end up in jail and these guys are on probation/walking free; their whole life is still intact.”
Davis also claimed that the investigation was much broader than the group of former NBA players ultimately charged. According to Davis, approximately 180 people were investigated or subpoenaed, while the public primarily heard about the 22 people who were eventually caught or implicated.
“I think the NBA let the feds pick who they wanted to choose,” Davis said. “180 people were investigated/supenoed. We didn’t hear about all those people. We just heard about the 22 people that got caught, or that got jammed in the situation.”
Davis further argued that some people who allegedly received money in the scheme avoided prison after pleading guilty or reaching other outcomes.
“A lot of people pleaded out. They didn’t go to jail. They didn’t even go get time served,” Davis said.
The former forward also claimed that numerous other NBA figures were investigated, naming Matt Barnes, Stephen Jackson, Gilbert Arenas, Corey Maggette and Cuttino Mobley among those he said were examined by federal authorities.
“Matt Barnes, Stephen Jack; all those people were investigated. Gilbert Arenas, Corey Maggette, Cutino Mobley; thousands of NBA players were investigated,” Davis said.
Davis played 13 NBA seasons, spending time with the Seattle SuperSonics, Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Clippers. He won an NBA championship with Boston in 2008 and averaged 8.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per game over his career.
