体坛英语新闻：Former NBA player Walker faces trial over casino debt

WASHINGTON, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Former NBA all-star Antoine Walker will face charges for failing to meet obligations to repay gambling debts of nearly one million U.S. dollars to three casinos.

Walker Monday appeared before Las Vegas Justice of the Peace judge Melanie Andress-Tobiasson, according to the Associated Press.

Andress-Tobiasson noted that Walker hasn't made any progress repaying some 770,000 U.S. dollars he owes on a promise last November to pay 905,050 U.S. dollars in restitution, court fees and penalties.

Andress-Tobiasson bound Walker over for trial in Clark County District Court on three criminal charges of writing bad checks. If convicted, Walker could face up to 12 years in prison on the combined charges.

Walker, 33, played for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2008. He won a championship in 2006 with the Miami Heat and was a three-time all-star for the Boston Celtics. He hasn't played in the NBA since 2008, but played briefly in Puerto Rico during the 2009-2010 season.