Clippers’ forward Amir Coffey was arrested Sunday and charged with firearm possession after police allegedly found a loaded gun in a vehicle he was in. Authorities reported the incident took place around 2:30 AM in Hollywood, but details aren’t quite clear at this time.
Amir Coffey | Big Ten Network via YouTube
What is known is that police stopped a vehicle for speeding and noticed an odor of marijuana coming from inside. Amir Coffey and another suspect were removed from the car and during a search, the weapon was found. According to a report from TMZ Sports, the basketball star admitted to arresting officers that the gun belonged to him.
Coffey was booked into jail around 5:00 a.m. and released four hours later on his own recognizance.
The charge is a misdemeanor for Amir Coffey will be returning for a court appearance sometime during the month of August. The driver was cited for speeding, and another passenger in the vehicle received a marijuana charge.
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“We’re aware of a legal situation involving Amir Coffey and are looking into it,” the Clippers said in a team statement on Monday. It’s possible that Coffey could face sanctions from Adam Silver and the NBA, who will issue a fine or suspension seems appropriate.
Amir Coffey’s arrest is yet another in a long line of incidents that continue to plague the National Basketball Association when it comes to firearms. While the individual teams employ security to protect their players, many of them still choose to carry guns in public. That’s led to some serious punishment for players like Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant – who has repeatedly run afoul of the league and the law.
Amir Coffey starred at the University of Minnesota, where he followed in the footsteps of his father, Richard, who played for the Golden Gophers collegiately and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the pros. In his four-year NBA career, the younger Coffey has played in 181 games, averaging 5.5 points. Although he’s spent his entire pro tenure with the Clippers, the forward is scheduled to become a free agent in the 2024 offseason.