Ball Don't Lie - NBA

In 12 years, Antoine Walker(notes) made more than $110 million playing professional basketball moderately well. Take away taxes, throw in some adidas endorsement money and a "NBA Live 99" cover, and he's left with, what, $60-to-65 million?

Whatever the details, it was a big chunk of change, which, amazingly, wasn't enough.

That's right, during the last several months, the once multi-millionaire athlete has been pursued by multiple financial institutions for unpaid debts.

In fact, according to Shira Springer of The Boston Globe, "Employee No. 8" owes more than $4 million to his creditors and is facing felony check fraud charges in Las Vegas. All of this at the age of 33. Wild.

Now I know what you're thinking: How in the world does somebody — not named Montgomery Brewster — even begin to blow through that amount of money?

The answer: fairly easily.

"[Walker] liked to move in an outsized entourage; his mother estimates that, during his playing days, he was supporting 70 friends and family members in one way or another. And speaking of his mother, he built her a mansion in the Chicago suburbs, complete with an indoor pool, 10 bathrooms, and a full-size basketball court. [...]

Living at the Bishops Forest condominium complex in Waltham during the Celtics season, Walker turned the pavement surrounding his home into a virtual luxury car lot — two Bentleys, two Mercedes, a Range Rover, a Cadillac Escalade, a bright red Hummer. Often, the vehicles were tricked out with custom paint jobs, rims, and sound systems at considerable added expense. He also collected top-line watches — Rolexes and diamond-encrusted Cartiers."

Condos, luxury cars, watches ... I guess that'll eventually force you into bankruptcy. Especially when you're not investing any money or collecting $200 with every fifth or sixth roll of the die.

But Walker's lavish lifestyle wasn't all "me-me-me." He was also a generous friend and teammate who had custom suits made for coaches, routinely picked up giant team dinner tabs and, when there were funds to spare, gave to underprivileged youngsters. He was basically spending money like it was going out of style.

And it did.

I guess Biggie was right after all: mo' money, mo' problems.

Cheers, CelticsBlog.

Other stories resonating on Yahoo! Sports:
Phillies' star upset with New York Post cover
Boston big man out six weeks after getting into fight...in his car!
Andre Agassi admits to using crystal meth during playing days

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4181 Comments

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  1. Bobie A
    1. Posted by Bobie A Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:03 pm EDT

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    damn!
  2. Bobie A
    2. Posted by Bobie A Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:04 pm EDT

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    hopefully Iverson wont end up like dat!
  3. Kevin P
    3. Posted by Kevin P Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:05 pm EDT

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    Hopefully he still has enough property that he can pay his debts and have a roof over his head. I could see how $110 million could seem like an infinite amount of money. Poor guy.
  4. Strings
    4. Posted by Strings Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:07 pm EDT

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    "mo' money, mo' problems"
    Ain't that the truth.
    Maybe Magic Johnson can hire 'Toine to work at one of his Starbucks shops to learn the value of a dollar.
  5. saveramanix
    5. Posted by saveramanix Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:14 pm EDT

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    Overall, he was a generous guy . I use to valet in Boston when i was in college, he would always greet everyone ...not like most super star who treat us like dirt and would tip us less than regular people. Antoine would always tip at least $50-100 evertime he valet his Bentley.
  6. Jon at MVN
    6. Posted by Jon at MVN Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:21 pm EDT

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    Where are his friends now? Probably hoping they don't have to give anything back...
  7. sportsnut888
    7. Posted by sportsnut888 Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:23 pm EDT

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    It's a shame he couldn't find a financial advisor he could trust who could have helped him place his money in vehicles that could guarantee him a lifetime income.
    He blew it all being the "big man." While being generous is not bad, sounds like he forgot to take care of himself at the same time. Maybe it's time to sell Mom's mansion, pay off the debts, and buy her (and himself) a modest home that he can pay cash for.
  8. Stat-man
    8. Posted by Stat-man Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:23 pm EDT

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    I completely agree with Ash, no way I'm feeling sorry for a guy who owned 7 cars and bought a house with 10 bathrooms.
  9. ahmed_vxr
    9. Posted by ahmed_vxr Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:25 pm EDT

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    he should come back and play again
  10. curtis
    10. Posted by curtis Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:27 pm EDT

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    I think he really shoulda stopped after 8 bathrooms. Anything more is just ridiculously gratuitous.
  11. Jeffrey
    11. Posted by Jeffrey Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:31 pm EDT

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    too much tupac and diddy and not enough COMMON SENSE. I do not feel bad for Antoine who probably will face jail time in Nevada. He was a selfish player and I guess he is like that off the court too.
  12. sean harris
    12. Posted by sean harris Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:37 pm EDT

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    too bad, learn to live off your interest, don't touch your principle and you will be fine, but with all the leeches and golddiggers, i guess it gets tough to say no. But its tougher to be broke.......
  13. yale411
    13. Posted by yale411 Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:40 pm EDT

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    Ash is an idiot
  14. Wade C
    14. Posted by Wade C Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:42 pm EDT

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    Its too bad that the NBA (and also NFL,NHL, and MLB) don't take more time with rookies to try to help these young superstars the value of the money they are making. I realize they do to a certain extent but more times than not stars seem to spiral out of control. It just doesn't make sense that someone could go through that amount of money in basically 15-17 years.
    I wish him luck
  15. Austin
    15. Posted by Austin Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:49 pm EDT

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    Brewster reference! I love it!
  16. slimey
    16. Posted by slimey Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:50 pm EDT

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    can't feel sorry for anyone who goes broke like that,there has got 2 be SOMETHING left
  17. eazzymoni
    17. Posted by eazzymoni Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:52 pm EDT

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    Its easy for people to sit on the sidelines and rant at others missteps and boo boos but overall its a part of life. Free will and fortune isn't a right only a privlege in which we all take for granite. Toine will be okay, he still got money, just not as much as he use to pay grand debts but I gaurantee he can still go places and spend lots of money on entertainment without missin' a beat. He can still play basketball but he wants to play for a contender not a lottery.
  18. Kenny
    18. Posted by Kenny Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:53 pm EDT

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    This happens to lots of people. Calling them "thugs" is out of line. Since when does spending or giving your money away considered to be thuggish? Let's not be to harsh on our judgment. Antoine is a good citizen going through a financial hardship. We will never know the real story. How many of us know good people with financial problems?
  19. Kenny
    19. Posted by Kenny Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:55 pm EDT

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    Wade you made a comment regarding rookies and financial counseling. The NFL and the NBA currently has rookie symposiums that take them through counseling for personal and financial needs. It will take a few more years till we see the results of these symposiums
  20. DAVID
    20. Posted by DAVID Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:59 pm EDT

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    If Ash is an idiot I guess I am too. What Ash said is true in both statistics and idealogy. Epic waste!.. The NBA should have Financial Advisors on the payroll to make sure these "kids" don't get taken advantage of or get caught up in their own egos. IMO
  21. sfniner12001
    21. Posted by sfniner12001 Tue Oct 27, 2009 3:03 pm EDT

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    Sounds like he was too nice and too foolish with his millions at the same time which equals where he is at now..BROKE!
    But I'm not one these idiots that kick a man when he is down, almost sounding happy that he is in that situation. Hopefully all these young rich athletes (namely cats from the hood) take a good hard look at A.W. and learn from his mistakes. This ain't the first time it's happenned and won't be the last.
    I do hope A.W. has enough good freinds/family to help him get his finances/life back in order.
    Hey M.C. Hammer came back!!=P
  22. KOBE2008
    22. Posted by KOBE2008 Tue Oct 27, 2009 3:05 pm EDT

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    HAHA punk@$$ 'toine. Even after all the blood sweat and tears you shed playing, at the end of the day I got more money in the bank from my air-conditioned 9-to-5 desk job.
  23. Joe S
    23. Posted by Joe S Tue Oct 27, 2009 3:14 pm EDT

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    Definitely no need to stereotype by calling people "thugs." The percentage of lottery winners that end up broke is very high as well, so I find it hard to justify this type of behavior as "thug." I would love to see classes in high schools that educated kids on important things like handling finances, taxes, credit, loans, interest, etc. It's really silly extremely important things like that are left out of our basic education.

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