Just in: A former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas— known for his explosive scoring and even more explosive personality — is now staring down a possible 15-year prison sentence after being federally indicted on multiple felony charges.
The 43-year-old ex-pro has been charged with:
Conspiracy
Operating an illegal gambling ring
Lying to federal investigators
According to reports, the retired hooper was hosting high-stakes underground poker games at his home — until federal authorities called his bluff.
A History of Controversy
Basketball fans know the name well. This isn’t his first headline — and definitely not his first brush with the law.
Back in 2009, he was suspended for the remainder of the NBA season after bringing two guns into the locker room during a heated dispute with a teammate. That teammate, it turned out, brought a loaded weapon of his own. The fallout led to criminal charges and a probation sentence.
His rival in that incident is now serving 23 years in prison for an unrelated fatal shooting — and depending on how this case shakes out, the two could end up crossing paths again behind bars.
A Longstanding Grudge Against Duke
To Duke fans, this ex-NBA star will always be remembered for his personal war with Coach Mike Krzyzewski.
After being left off the 2006 U.S. national team, he lashed out at Coach K and Team USA exec Jerry Colangelo. He even claimed he would have dropped “84 or 85” points on Duke in college just to prove a point, and said he’d sacrifice a year of his NBA career to do it.
At the time, many questioned why he was “on the bubble” for the national team. In hindsight, the decision may have saved USA Basketball a great deal of trouble.
From Courtside to Courtroom
Now, he’s facing serious time. The federal charges carry up to five years each, and while a concurrent sentence is possible, the outcome could redefine the next chapter of his life.
No weapons have been mentioned so far in this case — but with this individual’s track record, nothing can be ruled out.
The former star once prided himself on being unpredictable. But now, the biggest gamble of his life might be the one he already lost.
