"Diddy is gonna be Diddy no matter where he's at" - Former NBA star Sebastian Telfair provides Diddy update after prison release
- Former NBA player Sebastian Telfair recently opened up about his time in prison, revealing that he formed an unexpected connection with fellow inmate Sean Combs, also known as Diddy.
Life writes strange stories — and that saying couldn't be more true in the case of former 10-year NBA vet Sebastian Telfair . After receiving an early Christmas gift in the form of his release from Fort Dix Prison in New Jersey last night, Telfair opened up about his time behind bars and, more specifically, about one of the fellow inmates serving time there with him — Sean Combs, better known as Diddy.
"I met some good people — shout out Diddy," he told TMZ. "My boy Diddy is in the spot too. I couldn't imagine how Diddy felt, but Diddy's holding it down, he's doing what he's got to do. Where he's at, they're going to help him."
Serving in the same prison as Diddy
To recall, Telfair pleaded guilty in 2023 for his participation in the NBA's Health Care Fraud case, where he and 17 other former players submitted fraudulent medical and dental claims against the league's health and welfare benefit plan, totaling around $4 million. Even though he initially walked away without jail time and was given probation, everything shifted when he didn't complete court-ordered community service and failed to report to his probation officer. For that, he received a six-month sentence.
On the other side, his new prison "buddy" Diddy was sentenced to 50 months after a highly publicized trial exposed disturbing details about his behavior and mistreatment toward women.
"You abused the power and control that you had over the lives of women you professed to love dearly," Judge Arun Subramanian told Combs when announcing the sentence.
Telfair didn't go into deep detail about the day-to-day nature of their relationship inside, but he did confirm that Diddy remains in good spirits and that prison hasn't stripped away the persona that made him who he is.
"We all know Diddy's business," Telfair added. "Diddy was living a rock star life. I'm glad he's gonna get the time to relax and, as my boys will say on the inside, get some time for yourself. Diddy's in good spirits; he's still Diddy. Diddy is gonna be Diddy no matter where he's at."
The next stop for Telfair is the BIG3 league
The former No. 13 pick of the 2004 NBA Draft also shared one more update: he plans to return to the heat of the basketball hardwood, this time not in the NBA, but in the BIG3 league. According to him, the deal is already in place, and only minor details remain before he officially signs.
From a ten-year NBA career to serving time and forming an unexpected connection with one of music's most controversial icons, Telfair seems set for yet another unexpected chapter, and it looks like he's ready to embrace whatever comes next.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Dec 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
