NEW YORK, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Veteran point guard Chris Childs, who was suspended by the New Jersey Nets Tuesday, was the victim of a robbery.
Various reports Wednesday said Childs was robbed at gunpoint of cash and jewelry earlier in the day.
Various media indicated a New York police report said Childs was robbed at gunpoint outside a Manhattan restaurant called Justin's of about $30,000 in cash and jewelry. The restaurant is owned by music mogul Sean Combs.
According to New York Newsday, four men were involved. One of them allegedly pointed a loaded 9-mm handgun at Childs while another ripped his diamond chain from his neck and demanded the rest of his valuables, police said. He handed over a diamond cluster ring, diamond watch, cell phone, and about $800 in cash and the four men fled on foot.
The paper said it was unclear if the men knew it was Childs they were robbing. All four were caught by police after a brief chase and a 911 call and charged with first-degree robbery.
Nets President Rod Thorn Tuesday announced that Childs, 34, was suspended by the team for being overweight. He had not played in the preseason because of a troublesome right Achilles ailment. He has been wearing a boot to protect it.
Childs has not practiced since the beginning of training camp last month. The New York Times reported that he apparently did not follow a diet prescribed by the Nets to keep his weight down while he was inactive.
"He hasn't conditioned himself the way he needed to be in order to play NBA basketball, and until he does that, he will remain suspended," Thorn said. "At some point in time, I would assume that he would be a member of this team."
The Times report said it is believed that Childs was about 25 pounds above his ideal playing weight.
Childs was signed as a free agent Aug. 1 to provide depth at point guard behind All-Star Jason Kidd. He was given a two-year, $3.5 million contract for this his second stint with the Nets.
The 6-3 Childs averaged 4.1 points and 5.1 assists per contest in 69 games with the Toronto Raptors last season, his eighth in the NBA. He began his career with the Nets in the 1994-95 campaign, and also played for New York, making an appearance in the 1999 Finals with the Knicks.
