This topic contains 24 replies, has 12 voices, and was last updated by 
CameronCrazie 14 years, 8 months ago.
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- Posted on: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 7:27am #7853
llperezplayers who have had their careers cut short due to substance abuse:
Roy Tarpley-7th pick in ’86 draft. all rookie first team. 6th man of the year his second season. 13 points and 11 rebounds for career in 5 seasons. Expelled from league for Cocaine in ’91. Came back a few years later, but was expelled again for violating substance abuse policy. Never played in NBA again.
Richard Dumas- Missed entire rookie season due to drugs. In his official rookie season, he averaged 16 points and 5 rebounds for Phoenix Suns while helping lead them to NBA finals. Charles Barkely would later call it a disgrace that the team gave him his starting job over Ceballos after he had been reinstated from suspension. After rookie season, would miss next 2 seasons while attending drug rehabilitation. Returned for second season in’95 for 15 games and averaged 5 points. Never played in nba after that.
Vin Baker- was a former all-star and all nba team member with bucks and sonics. Ballooned to 300 pounds after lock out season of ’98-’99. Revealed he was an alchoholic who binge drinked in hotel after games. Play dropped off significantly. Later joined the Celtics, but was suspended by coach Jim O’Brien and later released when he showed up to practice drunk.
Lloyd daniels-Considered best prospect coming out of New York since Kareem Abdul jabar. Went to 5 different highschools in 3 states and had trouble getting accepted to a college due to having a 3rd grade reading level. Accepted to UNLV, but later kicked out due to buying cocaine from an undercover cop. Signed with a CBA team, but was cut for not taking care of his body. Signed with a team in New Zealand, but was cut shortly later for heavy substance abuse. Had brief stints with nmerous NBA teams showing flashes of brilliance.
Shawn Kemp- Was drafted into NBA without ever playing college ball. Was a perenial all-star and led Sonics to NBA Finals. Later ballooned to 300 poounds and admitted it was due to heavy cocaine and alchohol abuse. While contemplating a comeback, he was arrested in both 2005 and 2006 for cocaine and marijuana possesion. Would not play in NBA again.
Chris Washburn-accepted NC State, but was rumored to have never attended class, stole personal property, had an SAT lower then 500, and had his grades altered in order to remain eligible. He was the 3rd pick in ’86 draft. After unspectacular rookie season, checked into rehab facility in ’87 for cocaine abuse. After a few more unproductive years in NBA, he was banned from league for life after his 3rd failed drug test in 3 years in 1989.
Len Bias- ACC player of the year in 1986. Compared to Michael Jordan. #2 pick in ’86 draft by Boston Celtics. Expected to join Bird, McHale and Parish to push the Celtics dynasty past the 80’s and into the 90’s. Died of cocaine overdose less then 48 hours after he was drafted.
I got all my data from wikipedia, google, NBA encyclopedia, and “basketball, a history of the game” by alexander Wolfe.
“Don’t do drugs”-llperez
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 7:28am #202836
McWinningParticipanti wont.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 7:29am #202837
JoeWolf1The real Birdman had some problems with cocaine i believe, thats why he was absent from the NBA for a couple years
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 7:31am #202839
McWinningParticipantyeah he didnt reveal what it was but it might have been that.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 7:33am #202841
llperezhe did some heavy drugs that might have included coke, meth, speed , pcp, acid, shrooms, etc… He never admitted what drug he took, but he did say it was a one time thing and that alchohol abuse was his real problem. I did’nt include him because he still has a chance to get his career in order.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 7:35am #202842
blazer_fan_foreverParticipantHe had a 3rd grade reading level? Man, that’s insane! That’s why you pay attention in school lol.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 7:36am #202846
marcusfizer21ParticipantHow about Chris Washburn llperez22?
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 7:38am #202847
IndianaBasketballParticipantIt’s crazy that Kemp blew up to 300 lbs while abusing cocaine and alcohol… Usually people lose weight while they’re into that stuff because they neglect eating right, sleeping, etc.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 7:39am #202848
llperezall of these names were from off the top of my head. I vaguely remember washburn being a guy who was an abuser. Certainly I could have looked him up and added him if I had remembered. Maybe I’ll do that now actually. Thanks Fizer.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 7:42am #202849
llperezcocaine definitely makes you lose weight in an immediate matter. But if you abuse it long term, odds are that you are also drinking, not leaving your house and not getting excercise. Also, a lot of cocaine users tend to binge eat when they come down form their high.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 7:45am #202850
marcusfizer21ParticipantNo probz my man… Great article^^
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 7:45am #202851
Henry25ParticipantPlayed for the knicks in late 70’s and 80’s and had a serious drug problem. Was compared to Magic due to the fact he was a 6′ 5” point guard who could do it all. He was an all star a few times in his career and led the league in steal as well. Got clean though and last i checked he is still playing overseas
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 7:56am #202858
llperezadded washburn.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 7:59am #202859
AlexBoiiParticipantHe’s a former NJ Nets lottery pick that was traded to Houston on draft day that included Richard Jefferson and Jason Collins in a 3 for 1 deal…Griffin never lived to his potential and Jefferson and Collins were part of 2 Eastern Conference championships. He suffered from alcoholism (alcohol is a drug) and would eventually be released by the team and played 3 unspectacular seasons in Minnesota. Ironically, August 17th was the 2nd year anniversary of his death. Such a tragic ending from a former Parade Magazine’s National Player of the Year from Philly.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 8:04am #202860
JoeWolf1yeah, Him and Dalembert were a beastly down low combination in college, between the two of them they blocked close to 9 shots per game. I always liked Eddie Griffin, its a shame about his demise.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 8:04am #202861
Michael.S.ParticipantGreat call on Sugar Ray Richardson, he was Magic before Magic, but better. I don’t think he is stillplaying overseas hes over 50. but he lives there.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 8:06am #202862
llperezyes, I recall Griffin quite well. I remeber he was traded straight up for Richard Jefferson, Jason Collins, and some 6-4 left handed sg from pepperdine who I beleive was named Brandon Jennings. Anyways, Griffin was expected to be a star, but he had serious alchohol problems and eventaully died when colliding with a train while in his SUV. I don’t recall if it was an accident or a sucide though.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 8:12am #202868
QHaynes20William Bedford?
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 8:20am #202881
AlexBoiiParticipantHaha Brandon Jennings? Nah, not the same name as the Bucks rookie PG lol. But because you said “Brandon” it reminded me his last name is Armstrong. And to clear you’re uncertainty, he died after failing to recognize a railroad warning, and was over 3 times the legal alcohol limit. It is assumed it was an impaired judgment accident.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 8:24am #202889
llperezbrandon armstrong, I was close, got the rest correct did’nt I? And I knew he was impaired when the crash happened, but there was some speculation that he was so depressed that it might have been a drunken suicide. Sad regrdless.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 8:34am #202895
blazerheadfreak2.0wow so many crack heads
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 8:38am #202898
the microwaveParticipantTarpley would have been the man.. That dude was nice. I remember when he sued because his re-instatement was denied.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 8:41am #202902
llperezhe could have been an all-star. A lot of people compared him to karl Malone coming out of college. He had an ongoing law suit against the NBA for keeping him out of the league stating that his drug abuse was a physical disease that he could not control. They ended up coming to an undisclosed agreement out of court in like 2003 I believe.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 9:13am #202931
j1232eParticipantThe big man from seton hall. Played his rookie year for the jazz, then had an episode at a truck stop just outside of slc. I believe he thought he was a grizzly bear and was attacking garbage cans. Running around screaming. lol!
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 12:08pm #203040
CameronCrazieParticipantToo bad about Bias he he could have a great player.Shawn Kemp could have been really good too
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