Former NBA player Sebastian Telfair, who once dazzled the basketball world as a high school phenom, has been granted a full pardon by ex-US President Donald Trump. The pardon comes after Telfair served time in prison for illegal firearm possession.
Telfair, now 38, was a first-round draft pick in 2004 but saw his career derailed by legal troubles. In 2019, he was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison after being found guilty of carrying a loaded gun in his car during a traffic stop in New York.
A Rise and Fall Story
Once considered one of the most promising young talents in basketball, Telfair's journey from Brooklyn playgrounds to NBA stardom was chronicled in a documentary. However, his career never reached the heights many predicted.
After bouncing around several NBA teams, Telfair played internationally before his arrest. The pardon effectively wipes clean his criminal record, offering a chance at redemption.
Trump's Controversial Pardons
This marks another high-profile pardon from Trump, who has previously granted clemency to several celebrities and political allies during and after his presidency. The move has reignited debates about justice system fairness and privilege.
While Telfair's supporters celebrate the pardon, critics argue it exemplifies how wealth and fame can influence legal outcomes. The former point guard has yet to comment publicly on the development.
