Say ex-NBA star Person in debt when he fell into NCAA scheme

NBA legend Chuck Person was deeply in debt when he joined an NCAA corruption scheme that scored him $91,500 in bribes, an attorney for the player revered as “The Rifleman” said in court papers Tuesday.

Person, 54, pleaded guilty in March to taking the bribes in exchange for directing players at Auburn, where he was an assistant coach, to certain financial advisers. In new papers filed in Manhattan Federal Court, Person’s attorney explained that he took the bribes because he was desperately in need of cash.

“Although tremendously talented and unfailingly altruistic, Chuck has always been terrible with money. Having grown up dirt poor, Chuck never learned to save or manage his finances,” attorney Theresa Trzaskoma wrote.

The sharpshooter, who had a notable 14-year career in the NBA including Rookie of the Year honors in 1987, was always generous to a fault, the attorney wrote. He bought homes and vacations for his family, supported scholarships and built a community center in his hometown in rural Alabama. He paid his ex-wife as much as $30,000 per month in alimony — a figure that was based on his salary when he was an NBA star. His first job after retiring as an NBA player was for the Cleveland Cavaliers and paid only $18,000 per year, according to court papers.

By 2016, when Person had a dream job as an assistant coach at Auburn, he faced major financial troubles. A bank garnished 25% of his wages to repay a loan on a failed business investment. Desperation led Person to a financial adviser, Marty Blazer, who was cooperating with prosecutors, Trzaskoma wrote. Person set up meetings between players and Blazer in exchange for the bribes — with the feds listening in.

Person is the most wellknown defendant convicted in Manhattan federal prosecutors’ sprawling investigation of corruption in college basketball.

“Chuck has already suffered enormously. He lost two of the most important things in his life: his coaching job and his connection to the Auburn community,” Trzaskoma wrote.

Prominent members of the basketball world wrote letters in support of Person ahead of his sentencing on July 9. Donnie Walsh, the former president of the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks, wrote he was “proud to be associated with” the embattled coach.

“Now, he has made a major mistake, and I am sure he knows it. My hope is that the court gets confidence from enough people that Chuck is worth leniency so he can pick his life back up,” Walsh wrote.

Former NBA star Sam Perkins asked for mercy for his friend.

“Visions of grandeur sometimes make us more ambitious,” Perkins wrote.

“Up to this recent setback he has been a role model, mentor, good husband and responsible person.”

Person’s attorney asked he receive no jail time and instead be sentenced to 200 hours of community service.