Search icon

US Sports

30th Dec 2015

NBA star robbed outside strip club had money, teeth and iPhone 6 stolen

Spiral of disaster

Patrick McCarry

Cleanthony Early is the second New York Knicks player to be targeted by thieves in the space of a fortnight.

Early left a Queens club in the early hours of Wednesday morning when he was set upon by a gang of individuals intent on a dastardly deed.

Having left Cityscapes gentleman’s club, Early had ordered a taxi and was heading home when the vehicle was boxed in by three other cars.

The thieves held up the basketball star at gun-point and demanded money and jewellery from himself and his lady-friend. That was not the end of it.

One of the assailants demanded that Early hand over the gold caps on his teeth.

He complied only to be shot in the knee before the thieves made off with their loot. The taxi driver was also robbed.

https://twitter.com/glennschuck/status/682180716088684544/photo/1

Early was treated at Elmhurst Hospital and is said to be in a stable condition.

11 days ago, Derrick Williams [also on the Knicks roster] was robbed of $700,000 by two women he had met in a nightclub.

A Knicks spokesperson commented, “We are aware of what occurred with Cleanthony Early this morning and are relieved that he is not in a life-threatening situation.

“We will not comment any further until we receive more information.”

https://twitter.com/NY_KnicksPR/status/682194338529570816

Teammate Carmelo Anthony described the incident as ‘an unfortunate situation’.

King of understatement.