Flint-area police arrest ex-MSU, NBA player Mateen Cleaves on suspicion of drunken driving

Mateen Cleaves arrested on drunk driving suspicion

MOUNT MORRIS TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Former Michigan State basketball star and Detroit Pistons player Mateen Cleaves has been arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.

Cleaves was a captain for Michigan State’s 2000 NCAA championship team. Detroit drafted him in 2000 with the 14th pick overall. He also played for Sacramento, Cleveland and Seattle over six NBA seasons.

He recently joined Fox Sports Detroit as a Pistons analyst.

The Genesee County sheriff’s department says Cleaves was arrested Saturday in Mount Morris Township and jailed in nearby Flint, then released.

Defense lawyer Frank Manley says Cleaves drove because of an emergency involving his son. He says Cleaves knows he’s a role model and hopes people reserve judgment until more facts come out.