Antoine Walker Is Taking His Time Returning To The D-League Court

Update: Walker will join the team after the first four games of the season.

Quite the hullabaloo was made when former NBA All-Star Antoine Walker decided he was going to play in the NBA Development League last season. The same thing happened when it was announced that he was returning this season, but 'Toine's return to Idaho is currently in a bit of a holding pattern.

The 35-year-old was supposed to appear in court a couple of weeks ago for sentencing after pleading guilty to some gambling debt issues. His lawyer apparently worked out a court date for Dec. 6 instead as he deals with the casino issues in Vegas, but that date would seem a lot less convenient considering the Stampede will be beginning their first road trip of the season on that date.

Walker hasn't reported to the Stampede yet this season, however, and it doesn't seem like he will until after the court thing is taken care of -- considering he's planning on hosting two-day parties in Chicago (see flyer at right) when he is supposed to be visiting Bismarck, N.D., for a two-game series against the Dakota Wizards.

If the former All-Star is trying to prove he's rededicated himself to basketball, skipping the first four games of the season while he hosts parties and deals with legal matters probably isn't the best way of going about it. Considering the NBA lockout doesn't seem like it is ending anytime soon, however, maybe he's banking on NBA decision makers to just forget about it.