WALTHAM, Mass. — Multiple news outlets reported back in August that Boston Celtics center Vitor Faverani had been arrested for drunk driving in Valencia, Spain.
Faverani, however, said Monday that those reports are untrue.
“There’s no truth,” Faverani told reporters at Celtics media day. “Somebody in Spain tried to kill me. but he can’t. So there’s nothing of it. I’m here, you know? Everybody knows in Spain: There’s no truth. So I don’t care about that.”
(The Brazilian big man later clarified that he meant someone was trying to smear him in the press.)
According to reports, Faverani allegedly was driving with an blood-alcohol level of three times the legal limit when he ran a red light and hit a bus. Faverani acknowledged being involved in a collision but said a broken headline was the only damage sustained. He also denied that alcohol was involved.
Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said last week that the team was contemplating punishment for Faverani, but according to Faverani, he has not been disciplined.
“I’m talking a lot with (Celtics director of player personnel Austin Ainge), and he asked me if there’s truth or no. I said no, there’s no truth,” Faverani said. “He talked with my people in Spain, they say it’s not true. … The people high above me believe me, and that’s all.”
Faverani underwent surgery on his left knee in March, cutting his first NBA season short. He said the knee is “perfect” now, but head coach Brad Stevens said he might limit Faverani’s participation during two-a-day practices this week.
