Former NBA player Glen “Big Baby” Davis has been sentenced to 40 months in prison for his role in a healthcare fraud scheme that defrauded the league’s benefits plan. Davis, a member of the Boston Celtics’ 2008 championship team, was found guilty of submitting $132,000 in fabricated medical claims.
Davis is among 18 former players convicted as part of a broader investigation into fraudulent claims submitted to the NBA’s healthcare benefits program. He played for the Celtics from 2007 to 2011, contributing to their championship win in 2008, and went on to have stints with the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Clippers, retiring in 2015.
In October 2023, Davis was convicted of healthcare fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy charges. Notably, he submitted claims for $27,200 worth of dental work at a Beverly Hills office in 2018, despite being in Las Vegas at that time. His sentence is the longest received by any former player in this case, aside from Terrence Williams, the alleged ringleader of the scheme.
Alongside his prison sentence, Davis was ordered to pay $80,000 in restitution and to complete financial management classes and drug treatment programs.
Davis’s situation highlights a stark contrast to the more severe legal issues faced by other players, particularly those convicted of violent crimes. For instance, former Kings guard Darren Collison received only a 20-day jail sentence for domestic battery.
In a show of support, Andre Iguodala, executive director of the National Basketball Players’ Association (NBPA), submitted a letter to the court on Davis’s behalf, urging leniency by recognizing his positive contributions to the community and the impact he has had on those around him.
