NBA veteran Zach Randolph was arrested on suspicion of marijuana possession for sale, police told TheWrap.
The Sacramento Kings forward was one of two people arrested during a confrontation Wednesday night between LAPD and an unruly crowd in Watts, which resulted in damage to five police vehicles and one sheriff’s car.
Randolph, 36, was released Thursday morning on $20,000 bail, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman told TheWrap. TMZ reported that he had two pounds of marijuana, though the LAPD would not confirm that amount to theWrap.
Randolph’s agent and attorney Raymond Brothers told The Associated Press on Thursday: “The charges are false and misleading … we’re looking at all options to resolve this matter.”
The disturbance started around 10 p.m. PT when officers on patrol near the Nickerson Gardens housing project on the south side of Los Angeles came across a group blocking the street, drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana and playing loud music, ABC-7 reported.
As police tried to clear the crowd, people became more rowdy and began throwing rocks and bottles at the cop cars, police said. No officers were injured in the incident.
Randolph, a 16-year league veteran, spent eight seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies before signing with the Sacramento Kings in July. The two-time NBA All-Star played for Michigan State University before being drafted in 2001 by the Portland Trail Blazers.
Lamar Odom and 13 Other Sports Stars Who Battled Addiction (Photos)
Michael Phelps The Olympic swimmer got DUIs in 2004 and again in 2014, resulting in a suspension from U.S/ Swimming. Kellogs also dropped Phelps as a spokesperson in 2009 when photos leaked of him apparently smoking marijuana from a bong.
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Darryl Strawberry The former Mets, Dodgers and Yankees slugger was suspended three times by the MLB for substance abuse, which resulted in a number of arrests and visits to rehab.
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Diego Maradona The Argentinian soccer legend battled cocaine addiction from the mid-80s to 2004. After being rushed to the hospital in 2000 with heart problems, he was treated for alcohol-related hepatitis.
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Josh Hamilton Texas Rangers outfielder started experimenting with drugs in 2001. He then got clean after being confronted by his grandmother, but relapsed in 2009, 2012 and most recently, in Feb. 2015.
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Ricky Williams The New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins player began taking marijuana to ease social anxiety disorder, prompting a surprise retirement from the NFL in 2004. He later returned but failed at least two subsequent drug tests after being reinstated.
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Lawrence Taylor New York Giants linebacker tested positive for cocaine in 1987. He quit shortly after but relapsed upon retirement.
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Donte Stallworth The Cleveland Browns wide receiver was charged with DUI manslaughter after he struck and killed a pedestrian while driving his car in March 2009. Following a plea deal, he received a sentence of 30 days in the county jail and 8 years probation.
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Charles Barkley The NBA star turned TNT analyst was arrested in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2008 for DUI after running a stop sign. According to the police report, Barkley was in a hurry to receive oral sex from his female passenger. He spent three days in jail and entered an alcohol treatment program.
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Michael Irvin In March 1996, the Dallas Cowboys wide receiver was arrested on charges of cocaine possession when police found him lying on the floor covered in cocaine with multiple strippers. Irvin pled no contest to the charges and the NFL suspended him for five games.
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Nate Newton Nate Newton made six Pro Bowls in the NFL before being busted for marijuana, earning him two-and-a-half years in a federal prison.
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Todd Marinovich The quarterback was busted for cocaine at USC before being drafted by the NFL. While playing for the Oakland Raiders, he began taking LSD during games. After numerous NFL suspensions, he ended up at the Canadian Football League, where he started with heroin. At one point Marinovich severely cut his hand with a crack pipe during halftime.
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Len Bias Bias, an All-American college basketball forward at the University of Maryland, was selected by the Boston Celtics as the second overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft. He died two days later from cardiac arrhythmia induced by a cocaine overdose at age 22.
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Dock Ellis Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Ellis threw a no-hitter on June 12, 1970, claiming to have done it under the influence of LSD. He also had a substance abuse problem, and acknowledged after his retirement that he never pitched without the use of drugs.
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After the former NBA player was found unconscious in a Nevada brothel, TheWrap looks at other athletes whose careers were damaged by drink or drugs