Glen "Big Baby" Davis, the former NBA standout, has been released from prison after serving 17 months for his involvement in a scheme to defraud the NBA Players’ Health and Benefit Welfare Plan. Davis was among 19 individuals charged with submitting false claims for dental and chiropractic care, resulting in payouts of $2.5 million between November 2017 and June 2019.
Despite being sentenced to 40 months in May 2024, Davis didn’t start his sentence until October that year. The delay was granted to allow him to complete filming a documentary aimed at helping him pay $80,000 in restitution.
According to his attorney, Brendan White, Davis used his time behind bars productively, participating in various programs. Now, Davis is set to transition through the Long Beach Residential Reentry Management Office, commonly known as a halfway house, where he’ll undergo financial management classes and drug treatment as part of his sentence. He is expected to be fully released by July 9, followed by three years of supervised release.
In a spirited video on social media, Davis expressed his relief and excitement, declaring, "They tried to hold me down, but I’m back, man. I’m back, baby."
Davis, who was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in 2007 and traded to the Boston Celtics, enjoyed a successful NBA career, including a championship win with the Celtics in 2008. After his last NBA season with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2014-15, he took a brief hiatus before playing in Canada and winning a BIG3 championship in 2018.
The fraud scheme also implicated notable names like Tony Allen, Shannon Brown, and others, with former New Jersey Nets player Terrence Williams identified as the orchestrator. Williams was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2023.
As Davis transitions back into society, fans and former teammates will be watching closely, hoping for a positive new chapter in the life of "Big Baby."