New details emerged in the airport arrest of former NBA player Ben Gordon — including that he allegedly punched his 10-year-old son in the face and that the child had a protection order out against him at the time.
Gordon was apparently targeted by a “Karen” who recognized him as a celebrity, his ex-girlfriend claims.
Ashley Banks told The Post the woman intervened after recognizing Gordon and sparked the former player’s arrest at LaGuardia Airport on Monday for allegedly striking his 10-year-old son.
“The problem is the child was traumatized,” said Banks, who dated Gordon from 2016 to 2020.
“The child saw his father being arrested, taken away,” Banks said. “He was waiting in custody until his aunt picked him up. So that is the worst part of it, you know, and so we want to really protect him.”
The 39-year-old has been charged with assault and resisting arrest.
The child, who was taken to Long Island Jewish Children’s Hospital for evaluation, had an order of protection out against his father.
“We were just disappointed because you keep seeing this pattern with black people,” Banks said. “And it’s sad, but like a child is traumatized from it. How do you calm a 10-year-old? He’s probably going to be scared of the police. Because he’s little.”
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Witnesses told cops Gordon whacked his son with a “closed fist” as they waited for a flight to Chicago. Gordon was barred from getting on the plane and allegedly resisted arrest by locking his arms.
Banks told the DailyMail she once got a restraining order against the retired basketball player, however, she doesn’t believe he is capable of laying his hands on his children.
“I spoke with a child’s mother and like, she’s like, ‘he would absolutely never do that.’ The child’s fine. Safe. Was not hit at all,” Banks told The Post.
“It was completely fabricated. It’s really, really sad. Because when you put something out like that, especially on athletes and celebrities, it doesn’t go away.”
