In 2021, reports by Tom Winter about the arrest of 18 former NBA players for defrauding the NBA’s Health and Welfare Benefit Plan, sent shockwaves through the NBA world.
One of the tactics of the former players in this fraud then was revealed by the U.S. attorney – Tony Allen, Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis and Tony Wroten for example, claimed that they got root canals on the same six teeth on the same day.
Former NBA player and chairman of the National Basketball Retired Players Association, Spencer Haywood fought for full health care for retired players, especially those who played before the big NBA pay days.
Haywood, as you can imagine was heartbroken about the reports of the fraud, especially upon realizing how much work was required to encourage the NBPA to agree to fund a full health care package.
Per the Boston Globe:
“I get stopped now and people asking about it and I’ve talked to some former players asking, ‘what is it going to do to us?’ ” Haywood said. “So it’s up in the air. It’s just sad, man. Some of the names I was saddened to hear, like Glen Davis, I was like wait a minute, I didn’t think he was that kind of a person. He’s made, what, $40 million in salary? What are you doing man?
“It hurts because all of these young guys, instead of working with the players’ union and trying to make it better, they’re trying to take away from it and all of these people’s reputations. Julius Erving is under this program, all of us are. People put it on the line so we can have a great league and on the 75th anniversary [of the NBA], this is what we’ve got?”
While Terrence Williams, was sentenced to 10 years in prison earlier this year for leading a scheme to defraud the league’s health and welfare benefit plan, Tony Allen who also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, was sentenced to community service and supervision for his role in the scheme.
Now, Glen “Big Baby” Davis was found guilty of health care fraud, wire Fraud and conspiracy to make false statements and conspiracy to commit fraud.
“Today’s conviction exemplifies that despite notoriety or success in sports or any other field, no one is exempt from criminal charges if they engage in fraud,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement.
Former NBA player Will Bynum was also found guilty. The two players each could face up to 20 years in prison, but the sentences are unlikely to be that long.
