Sebastian Telfair Sentenced to 3 1/2 Years in Prison for Gun Possession
Former NBA point guard Sebastian Telfair is headed behind bars. He's been sentenced to 3.5 years in prison after being convicted of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in April.
Telfair was initially arrested in the summer of 2017 when he was pulled over in his car by law enforcement. The officer present found a loaded weapon in his vehicle after searching the car in response to a marijuana odor.
Former NBA player Sebastian Telfair was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison today after convicted for gun possession. Really sad. Was lottery pick in 2004 and was so much fun to watch as a high school/AAU player coming out of Coney Island.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) August 12, 2019
The Brooklyn native last played in the NBA for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2015, when he only appeared in 16 games. The guard broke into the league straight out of high school in 2004 at the age of 19 after getting drafted 13th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers. Famously, he was the subject of a book and a documentary film about his path from high school senior to NBA lottery pick.
For his career, he averaged 7.4 points in 564 career games.
Sebastian Telfair has been sentenced to 3 and a half years in prison for gun possession pic.twitter.com/N3OXFn50QH
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) August 12, 2019
His best season came in 2008-09 with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The then 23-year-old averaged 9.8 points and 4.6 assists in almost 28 minutes per game.
Telfair had an up and down NBA career, but it's sad to see his life turn in such a sad direction. Hopefully, he can get back on his feet and prove that his life has a positive second act still to come.