DETROIT ? After six years of insisting he took nothing from Michigan booster Eddie Martin, basketball player Chris Webber finally admitted Monday he was lying.

As part of a plea deal, Webber told a federal judge that he lied to a grand jury in August 2000 about repaying Martin for loans supplied to Webber and his family. Webber, an All-Star forward for the Sacramento Kings, admitted giving $38,200 to Martin in 1994 as partial repayment.

“I plead guilty,” Webber told U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds.

With the plea, Webber avoided a trial that was to begin today on more serious charges. Federal prosecutors alleged that Webber and his family received $280,000 in loans from Martin while Webber was at UM and in high school. Webber’s guilty plea to criminal contempt, rather than perjury, exposes him to a fine — but no prison time.

“I’m just really relieved that this is over,” Webber said.

Edmunds will decide whether the criminal contempt charge is treated as a misdemeanor or felony and will announce a fine for Webber when she sentences him Sept. 16.

Webber’s 56-year-old father, Mayce Webber Jr., of Farmington Hills, Mich., also was charged. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss charges against him as part of the deal.

Two other players — Robert Traylor and Louis Bullock — admitted they took money from Martin. The loans totaled $616,000.