John Wisely

Detroit Free Press

Former NBA star refused breath test when he was arrested April 23.

Lawyer is asking to reinstate his driver's license.

Super-drunk law calls for up to six months in jail.

Detroit Pistons assistant coach Tim Hardaway faces up to six months in jail after pleading no contest Thursday to violating Michigan's so-called "super-drunk" driving law.

Beverly Hills police arrested Hardaway about midnight April 23, after spotting him speeding on 13 Mile near Lahser. They stopped him as he pulled into his driveway, said his lawyer, Mitch Ribitwer.

Hardaway refused a breath test, so officers obtained a search warrant to draw a blood sample. It showed Hardaway's blood-alcohol content to be 0.17%, more than double the legal limit, and enough to trigger the super-drunk provision of the law, which includes tougher penalties.

"The man is 50 years old and never been in trouble in his life," Ribitwer said. "It was an aberration, and he took responsibility for it."

Because he refused the breath test, Hardaway's license was suspended for a year, beginning July 9. Ribitwer is petitioning to have his license reinstated so that Hardaway can drive to and from work.

No one else in the house is available to drive Hardaway, Ribitwer wrote in a petition seeking the reinstatement. Hardaway has been married for 24 years with three children, including former University of Michigan basketball star Tim Hardaway Jr., who plays for the Atlanta Hawks.

"Mr. Hardaway is deeply remorseful for his behavior and has an attitude of humility about his situation," Ribitwer wrote.

Hardaway played 13 seasons in the NBA with Golden State, Miami, Dallas, Denver and Indiana, earning NBA All-Star honors five times.

Southfield District Judge Cynthia Arvant will sentence Hardaway on Sept. 26.

Contact John Wisely: 313-222-6825 or jwisely@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @jwisely.