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SACRAMENTO, Calif. --Chris Webber, making his first public statement since being indicted on federal charges, said Tuesday he did not lie to a grand jury and that he tried to help prosecutors in their case against a University of Michigan booster.


Chris Webber was charged Monday with obstruction of justice and making a false declaration before a grand jury.

The All-Star forward was indicted Monday in Detroit on charges he lied about his dealings with Ed Martin, who admits lending the NBA star $280,000 while he was still an amateur. Martin also admitted lending money to other Michigan basketball players.

``This case is about a man who befriended kids like myself, preying on our naivete, our innocence, claiming that he loved us and that he wanted to support us, but later wanting to cash in on that love and support that we thought was free,'' Webber said.

Webber, who led Michigan's ``Fab Five'' team to two NCAA title games, is in the second year of a $123 million, seven-year contract with the Sacramento Kings.

He was charged with obstruction of justice and making a false declaration before a grand jury, according to the FBI and U.S. attorney's office in Detroit.

``I did not lie to the grand jury,'' Webber said.

Kings coach Rick Adelman and vice president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie joined Webber outside the team's practice facility next to Arco Arena.

``We'll support Chris in whatever he chooses to do. And we don't think it will affect what he does on the court.'' said Petrie, who added it was too early to speculate whether Webber will miss any games because of his legal problems.

Webber, who had just finished a workout, said he was speaking out because ``I wanted to show my supporters I am not running away from the situation.''

And he said he will continue to speak out.

``I will dedicate time speaking to kids and families that are in athletics such as myself about the pitfalls of athletics and those who prey on kids and young families. Hopefully, they can learn from this experience,'' he said.

Martin pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to launder money, admitting he took gambling money, combined it with other funds and lent it to several players while they were still amateurs.

Martin, 68, said his payments included $280,000 to Webber; $160,000 to Robert Traylor, now with the New Orleans Hornets; $105,000 to Maurice Taylor, now with the Houston Rockets; and $71,000 to Louis Bullock, who has been playing professionally in Europe.

Former Michigan star Jalen Rose, now with the Chicago Bulls, said in May he took ``pocket money'' from Martin.

The 29-year-old Webber publicly denied taking significant amounts of money from Martin.

The maximum penalty on each charge Webber faces is five years and a fine of $250,000.

Payments to college players violate NCAA rules. The indictment said Webber, his father and aunt gave false information to the university in its internal investigation and the school forwarded it to the NCAA.

Prosecutors, NCAA spokesman Wally Renfro, Kings spokesman Darren May and Michigan athletic director Bill Martin have declined comment.

The indictment says Webber, his father and his aunt conspired to conceal the cash, checks, clothing, jewelry and other benefits provided to the player and his family by Martin from 1988 to 1993.

Webber's father, Mayce Webber Jr., and his aunt, Charlene Johnson, were indicted on the same charges as Webber. Neither immediately returned messages.

Traylor and Bullock admitted to the grand jury they received the loans, said their attorney, Steve Fishman.

Webber, a 6-foot-10, 245-pound forward and four-time All-Star, has averaged 22.1 points and 10.2 rebounds during his nine-year career. He was the first pick in the 1993 draft and was rookie of the year with Golden State.

He also starred at Washington before being traded to the Kings. Webber led Sacramento to the Western Conference finals, where the Kings lost in seven games to the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers.