NBA Rumors: Former Portland Trail Blazer Fall From Grace Continues

The Portland Trail Blazers are still savoring their sweet triumph over the Oklahoma City Thunder although that may not include one former player of the franchise. Sebastian Telfair, the team's 13th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft has been convicted of possessing a firearm and faces a prison sentence of up to 15 years.

According to TMZ Sports, the 33-year-old former NBA player was apprehended back in June 2017 in Brooklyn after authorities found multiple weapons at a traffic stop. The report added that Telfair had 3 pistols and also (what appeared) a semi-automatic rifle, a bullet-proof vest, ammunition, and weed.

Telfair, who spent 12 years playing in the NBA, pleaded not guilty. However, a New York City jury found him guilty of criminal possession of a weapon. He is due back in court in June for sentencing.

The whole issue is a sad episode for Telfair who is also the cousin of another retired former NBA star Stephon Marbury. Aside from the Blazers, he also had stints with the Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

After his stint with the Raptors in 2013, Telfair ended up being a free agent. With no takers, the 33-year-old took his act to the Chinese Basketball Association, joining the Tianjin Ronggang. He had a chance to return to the NBA in 2014 with the OKC Thunder but was eventually waived. He headed back to the CBA and joined the Xianjian Flying Tigers where he played for the rest of the 2014-15 season.

The incident is not the first time Telfair has had illegal gun possession issues. Back in 2007, he and a friend were arrested with felony possession of a weapon after police found a loaded handgun in his car, the New York Daily News reported.

The debacle appends the fall from grace of the former Abraham Lincoln High School star who opted to turn professional rather than play in college. At the time, he was listed as the No. 2 point guard and the No. 6 player in the nation in 2004.

Telfair had originally committed to play for the University of Louisville under coach Rick Pitino during his senior year. He would, however, change his mind and opted to make the big jump to the NBA instead.