LJWorld.com

Former Kansas University basketball players Darrell Arthur and Mario Chalmers on Friday apologized for being expelled from the NBA's Rookie Transition program.

Both said they broke rules in having women in their rooms, but denied published reports that they used marijuana while in Arthur's room.

Chalmers of the Miami Heat released an apology through the team "to NBA commissioner David Stern, Heat owner Micky Arison, Heat president Pat Riley, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and the Kansas basketball family."

"Everyone who knows me knows I am a good person and I pride myself on doing the right thing," Chalmers said. "I am embarrassed this happened. I broke the rules, but I did not smoke marijuana."

Chalmers and Arthur could be fined up to $20,000 apiece and may face a suspension at the start of the season. They will have to attend the NBA orientation program next September.

"I made a poor decision in putting myself in the situation that I did," Chalmers said. "It is a dream of a lifetime to play in the NBA and be part of the Miami Heat. I look forward to starting my NBA career. This was a one-time occurrence and it won't happen again."

Arthur apologized through the Memphis Commercial-Appeal newspaper.

"About the marijuana, I didn't have any," Arthur said. "I didn't have anything to do with marijuana or anything like that. I'd like to clear that up. ... I used bad judgment by bringing the girls in and violating the rules. I'm not a bad kid or anything. I just put myself in a bad situation. I want to apologize to the GM, the owner and all the fans. You won't hear my name in anything like this from here on out. It'll be straight and narrow from here."

Arthur told the paper he plans to rectify the situation in part by counseling Memphis youths.

"I want kids not to make the mistake I made," Arthur said. "I want to try to teach them the right thing to do. If you follow the rules you won't be in the same position I'm in. I feel terrible. I should have never opened the door. If I wouldn't have done that, everything would have been cool. I knew the rules and I made a mistake."

Miami Heat president Pat Riley called the expulsion of Chalmers "an embarrassment."

"It's something that really can't be tolerated," Riley said. "The shame of it is it is an embarrassment. He's absolutely embarrassed and morose about it. I don't think he's that kind of person, and I don't think he'll get himself caught in that kind of situation again."

The NBA Transition Program they were booted from focuses on life skills, handling finances, the importance of character and image, the difference between NBA and NCAA game rules, legal matters and dealing with media.

The situation early Wednesday morning became aggravated when Arthur and Chalmers initially refused security entry into the room at the resort. That decision prompted police officers to become involved.