NBA player faces battery charge in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS -- Unrestricted NBA free agent Daniel Gibson surrendered to police Monday to face a second-degree battery charge.

Gibson is accused of breaking another man's jaw with a punch during an argument at a nightclub on July 8, New Orleans Police spokeswoman Remi Braden said. Gibson's wife, Keyshia (KEY-shuh) Cole, sang at the Essence Festival on July 6.

Online court records show he was released on $20,000 bond.

Gibson said he was protecting his family when the fight occurred at a club where he and Cole had gone to celebrate while in New Orleans.

''It was toward the end of the night,'' Gibson said. ''We encountered a couple of people and I don't know what their motives or intentions were but they came off the wrong way. This guy got real aggressive toward my wife and myself and I did what I felt was necessary to handle the situation.''

Gibson said the man said ''something'' to his wife but wouldn't go into details. ''He was very disrespectful toward my wife,'' he said.

Braden said Gibson's accuser is from St. Rose, about 25 miles from New Orleans. She did not identify him.

Gibson played seven years for the Cleveland Cavaliers but was out with injuries much of last season. He said he turned himself in because, ''I felt like I had nothing to hide.''

Gibson said he has been in contact with a few teams throughout this summer.

''Then something like this happens and all they (teams) see is that it looks as though I'm out there doing crazy things and I wasn't raised that way. There are a lot of accusations being made and I just want to protect my family and everything I've worked so hard for.''

Gibson said no court date has been set.