Georgia Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Scamming $7 Million from NBA Star

A Georgia man, Calvin Darden Jr., has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for orchestrating a scheme that defrauded NBA star Dwight Howard out of $7 million. The money was supposed to be an investment in purchasing the WNBA's Atlanta Dream, but it turned out to be nothing less than an elaborate con.

Howard, an eight-time All-Star and three-time Defensive Player of the Year, testified that he had trusted Darden with the funds in hopes of becoming a part-owner of the Dream. However, the truth unraveled when ESPN reported that the team had been sold to an investor group, and Darden had no ties to the transaction.

Prosecutors revealed that Darden and a collaborator—a sports agent—also tricked former NBA player Chandler Parsons into handing over $1 million. Parsons was told the money would support the career development of James Wiseman, the second overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. But in reality, neither Darden nor the agent had connections to Wiseman, who never agreed to be represented by them.

Adding insult to injury, Darden flaunted his ill-gotten gains by acquiring luxury items, including a $3.7 million mansion in Atlanta, $600,000 worth of Jean-Michel Basquiat artwork, a Lamborghini, and a Rolls-Royce. A Manhattan federal court judge has now ordered him to forfeit $8 million along with these high-end purchases.

Darden was convicted in October on a mix of charges, including wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering. This isn’t his first brush with the law—he previously served a year-long federal prison sentence for impersonating his father, a former UPS executive, in an attempt to buy Maxim magazine.

The Atlanta Dream, the WNBA team at the center of this drama, was once co-owned by former Republican U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler. She was later pressured to sell her stake after a public fallout with players over her opposition to the league’s racial justice initiatives.

Dwight Howard, meanwhile, remains a towering figure in basketball history. Drafted first overall by the Orlando Magic in 2004, his career highlights include numerous accolades and an enduring legacy in the sport.