Former NBA Star Released From Federal Prison
“Big Baby” is back out.
Former NBA star Glen Davis, who went by the nickname during his career, was released from the Federal Prison Camp, Yankton, in Yankton, S.D., on Thursday. Davis had served 17 months of a 40-month prison sentence handed down in 2023 after he and others were convicted in a healthcare fraud case. It could have been much worse, as the initial charges against the former NBA champion made him eligible for up to 20 years in federal lockup.
A video of Davis after his release from actor Kris D. Lofton circulated on social media over the weekend. Davis played drug lord “King Kilo” alongside Lofton's Jenard character in season two of Starz’ Power Book IV: Force. Those episodes aired in 2023, the year Davis was convicted.
The federal government wasn’t playing games when it charged Davis and his co-defendants with submitting false claims that defrauded the NBA Players’ Health and Benefit Welfare Plan to the tune of $5 million. Federal prosecutors said more than 20 people were ultimately convicted in the case, including former NBA players Terrence Williams, Keyon Dooling, Alan Anderson, Sebastian Telfair, Tony Allen, Shannon Brown, Melvin Ely, and Will Bynum. Sentences for those convicted or reached plea deals ranged from 10 years in prison to probation and financial restitution.
Davis, 40, was a second-round draft pick of the Boston Celtics in 2007 and was part of the team’s 2008 championship team. He played a total of 10 seasons, for Boston, the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Clippers, averaging eight points and 4.4 rebounds per game. He also played in Ice Cube’s Big 3 league after retiring from the NBA.