Washington Wizards Guard Ryan Rollins Released From The Team After Shoplifting At Target Store

Washington Wizards guard Ryan Rollins has been released from the team following accusations of serial shoplifting at a Target store. According to court documents filed in Alexandria General District Court in Virginia and reported by The Athletic, the 21-year-old player is facing seven counts of petit larceny for stealing household items such as groceries, body wash, and candles, valued at less than $1,000. The alleged incidents occurred between September 9 and November 9 of the previous year while Rollins was still on the Wizards’ roster. It is claimed that he targeted the same Target store during each theft. Rollins’ actions have resulted in a court hearing scheduled for early next month, where he is yet to enter a plea. Petit larceny of goods under $1,000 from a business is classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia. The charges, if proven, could have legal repercussions for Rollins. Rollins, whose $1.7 million salary for this season was fully guaranteed by the Wizards, previously played for the Golden State Warriors and featured in 10 regular-season games for the Wizards before his release. He was part of the trade package that sent Chris Paul to the Warriors during the summer The Wizards swiftly moved on from Rollins, filling the vacant roster spot by signing guard Hamidou Diallo to a 10-day contract. Despite the guaranteed salary of $1.7 million for this season and an additional $600,000 guaranteed for next year, the team made the decision to release Rollins in light of the allegations. Monumental Basketball president Michael Winger addressed the situation in a statement to The Athletic, stating, “We just recently learned of the charges against Ryan. We cannot comment on that matter or the basis for our roster decisions. We do take our role very seriously as citizens of the DMV, representatives of our fans, and a team our community can be proud of.” The Wizards, now focused on moving forward, expressed their commitment to pursuing excellence both on and off the court despite the unexpected challenges posed by Rollins’ legal situation. 

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