Former NBA champion Isaiah Rider has been arrested for a third time in Arizona after failing to comply with a court order, according to Maricopa County jail records.
Rider, 55, was arrested on Thursday and booked on Friday. He is expected to remain in custody until Tuesday after a guilty verdict on a misdemeanor offense.
This marks the latest legal issue for the former player, who was arrested twice last year in connection with his divorce proceedings from his estranged wife, Vanessa.
On December 4, Rider was first arrested and charged with interfering with judicial proceedings over a protective order filed by his ex-wife. He was arrested again on December 20, 2025, for failing to appear at a court hearing, an incident that occurred just over two weeks after he violated the protective order.
Vanessa Rider accused the ex-NBA star of aggressive behavior towards her and their 15-year-old son, allegations Rider denies. He contends his ex-wife is seeking revenge after he filed for divorce in November 2024.
The protective order mandates that Rider have no contact with his wife or son and stay away from their residence and their son's school. A hearing scheduled for December 15 was to determine if the order should remain in place. Rider's failure to attend this hearing led to his second arrest.
Court documents indicate Vanessa Rider was present at the December 15 hearing, leading the judge to uphold the protective order.
Rider's attorney, Benjamin Taylor, stated at the time that Rider would not be making further comments.
Rider began his NBA career with the Minnesota Timberwolves, selected fifth overall in the 1993 draft. He played four seasons with the team, earning an All-Rookie First Team honor and winning the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 1994. He later played for the Portland Trail Blazers and Atlanta Hawks before signing with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000. Though left off the playoff roster, he earned a championship ring when the Lakers won the title that year. He concluded his career with the Denver Nuggets, appearing in 563 games and averaging 16.7 points per game.
