Stars fall.
60 percent of NBA stars are said to go bankrupt within 5 years of retirement. But the accusations leveled against former Kentucky Wildcats and NBA star Rex Chapman make for troubling reading.
The Arizona Republic reports that Chapman, also a former director of basketball operations with the Phoenix Suns, was arrested yesterday and charged with shoplifting more than $14,000 worth of electronics from the Apple store in Scottsdale, Ariz.
He is accused of walking in on seven occasions and pretending to use the self checkout through his iPhone app, while actually not paying at all.
He allegedly took the stolen items to a pawn shop and exchanged them for cash. Reports suggest the Apple store employees recognized him from his days as a player.
In total, nine charges of organized retail theft and five of trafficking in stolen property have been laid against him. These are all felonies.
Chapman's NBA career spanned 12 years, during which time he played with four different teams: the Charlotte Hornets, the Washington Bullets, the Miami Heat and the Phoenix Suns.