Former Pacer Shawne Williams Arrested

By: Stephen Patterson

Former NBA star and University of Memphis standout Shawne Williams was arrested after being pulled over with marijuana and a loaded weapon in his vehicle. Officers found over 17 grams of marijuana in the car and the weapon was in the possession of Williams' former U of M teammate Kareem Cooper. The officer pulled over Williams' vehicle because he wasn't wearing a seatbelt and was charged with driving on a suspended license.

Williams has been surrounded by legal troubles since his departure from the University of Memphis. Since being selected with the 17th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers, Williams has been arrested multiple times and has pretty much ruined any chance he ever had of getting back into the NBA. 

After two troubled seasons in Indiana, Williams was sent to the Dallas Mavericks in a trade. However, Mark Cuban quickly grew tired of his antics and sent him home from the team in January 2009. Although Cuban said the team was trying to help Williams through personal issues and troubled times, the franchise didn't renew his contract and he didn't play in the NBA last season.

Considering the fact that Williams has failed to live up to expectations from the moment he was drafted by the Pacers, this latest off the court issue may have ended any chances he may have had of a comeback. Too many professional sports owners are becoming more aware of their franchise images and are avoiding players that have repeatedly shown they can't stay away from legal problems. If Williams ever wants to play in the NBA again, he needs to get some serious help and change his lifestyle completely before even attempting to contact a team.