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5 NBA Players That Drugs Derailed Their Career

Chris Washburn

Washburn was one of six players drafted in the 1986 NBA draft that had substance abuse problems. At 6’11 and 230lbs, Washburn was very similar to a young Chris Webber, minus the handles. Washburn thrived at NC State and was seen as one of the most athletically gifted big men available in a long time. Washburn was drafted by the Golden State Warriors and was officially out of the NBA in just two-and-half years. David Stern served Washburn with a lifetime ban after failing three separate drug tests. Post NBA life has not been kind to the former big man, he has spent a lot of time homeless and living in abandoned buildings while also spending time in jail. Washburn has been labeled one of the biggest draft busts of all time.

Michael Beasley

Michael Beasley should be in the NBA, the end. Beasley for the most part has worn out his chances of being on an NBA team. As of right now, the Blazers it seems to be giving Beasley one last shot. At 32, the Blazers are giving him a shot at being a part of their summer league team. Michael Beasley at 32 should not be trying to secure a spot on a summer league team with undrafted rookies. Beasley at this point should have averaged 20 and 8 for his career and been an NBA All-Star. Beasley faced a lot of off the court issues, so it was more than just drugs that derailed his career. Its a tragic story for a player that has a lot of offensive weapons and also was a decent rebounder.

Larry Sanders

Sanders was on his way to being a formidable big man when two marijuana suspensions forced his exit from the NBA. Prior to the suspensions, Sanders had signed a $44 million dollar deal (peanuts compared to what players averaging doubles doubles are getting today) and was averaging 10 points and 10 boards per game. Although he did say he was retiring and never playing in the NBA again, Sanders returned two years later and was picked up by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He played in just five games with Cavs before getting demoted to the G-League. Sanders didn’t have much success and had been cited as having “on and off the court difficulties”. Had drugs not gotten in the way, Sanders skills fit the need of many NBA teams today. Many teams would have definitely offered big bucks to someone crashing the boards and guarding the paint like he did.

Richard Dumas

For those of you who have never heard the name Richard Dumas, Richard Dumas was a 90s small forward best known for playing along side Charles Barkley in the 1993 NBA Finals against the Chicago Bulls. Dumas had excelled that finals series and offered the Suns a spark in the open court and also was a great defensive threat. Dumas averaged 15 and 5 that season and appeared to have a bright future with lots of upside. Dumas would fail a number of drug tests and was out of the NBA in just two years. Since then Dumas spent years overseas and bouncing around the minor leagues. Without drugs and with the right team, Dumas could have become the second or third option on a playoff team.

Len Bias

We saved the best for last. You knew after seeing the headline that he was going to be on the list somewhere. Former University of Maryland and Boston Celtic to never officially wear the uniform, power forward Len Bias. Len Bias is the biggest what-if in NBA history. Bigger than what could have been if Grant Hill not been injured. Bigger than what Tracey McGrady could have been had he not been injured. Bigger than what if streetball legend Earl Manigault could made the NBA. What could have become of Len Bias had he not succumb to drugs? Could he have been top 10 ever? Could he have been better than Michael Jordan? Could he have been the best player in the NBA? Reality is we will never know, but most likely Bias would have won a few titles with the Boston Celtics and most likely ended up a hall of famer.

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5 Classic Shoes That Michigans Fab Five Wore

Air Jordan IX

The Fab Five wore alot of icon shoes during their run, but we start the list off with a classic Air Jordan. Obviously Michael Jordan would have been the first person wearing these in the NBA, had he not retired in the fall of 1993. The first NCAA player to wear the famous Air Jordan IXs was none other than Michigan point guard Jalen Rose. Chris Webber had just been drafted number #1 in the NBA draft, and it was Rose’s time to shine and lead the wolverines. What better way to take the lead role than with a new pair of Jordans no one else had.

Nike Air Command Force 180

AKA The Billy Hoyles. Technically, Webber did not wear the Billy Hoyles while a Michigan Wolverine (although it actually would have matched the jersey nicely). Webber did however, wear these shoes while a senior at Detroit Country Day during the days Steve Fisher was recruiting him. These shoes were the highest retail priced shoe in the market, and only the biggest big ballers could afford them. Webber was an All-American his senior year and one of the greatest high school power forwards that played high school ball in the 90s. There really was no better shoe that suited him.

Nike Air Huarache

In the last 19 years of the shoes’ history, a lot of famous players have worn one of the many the Nike AIr Huarache models. Kobe Bryant did, Scottie Pippen did, Reggie Miller did, John Startks did and a number of other NBA greats. No player or moment though was bigger in 1992, then when a group of five fabulous freshman took the court in the 1992 March Madness tournament. Everyone that was watching the tourney was watching those freshman, and guess what they had on their feet: Nike Air Huaraches. And Nike had nothing to do it.

Nike Air Max 180

The Fab Five brought out the short black ankle socks (a trend that began with them) to match these Nike Air Max 180s. The Fab Five wore these during their second Final Four appearance in 1993, and was the shoe that Chris Webber was wearing at the time of his famous time out call when they did not have any timeouts available. A classic 1990s basketball worn by Charles Barkley, Will Smith and others has been so popular over the years that it has been retroed multiple times over.

Nike Air Flight Maestro

Another early 90s classic. In case you forgot, the second version of this shoe, an all red model was worn by Scottie Pippen in the 1994 NBA All Star Game in which he also won the MVP. These are the first model and a pair that the Fab Five wore during the 1992-1993 season. Pippen also loved shoe and wore them during a bunch of Chicago Bulls games in 1993. In 1992, these looked dope, and now in 2021, these still look just as dope.

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New Jay-Z book on Amazon!

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New Kobe Bryant Music Mixtape! Available on YouTube!

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Tom Ramsey

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Len Bias rookie card

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Mood

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True story

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Imagine Lil' Wayne playing in the NBA 🤔

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The often forgotten about Air Pippen 2

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Jamaal Oldham

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