Behind the Glory: 10 NBA Players and Their Struggle With Drugs
From the streets to the spotlight, from overdoses to miraculous recoveries, these NBA legends faced battles far tougher than anything on the court. This is the real story of how addiction changed—and sometimes destroyed—the lives of basketball’s brightest stars.
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Chris Herren: Death and Rebirth
Chris Herren’s journey into addiction began innocently enough—just a teenager experimenting with alcohol and marijuana. But the slide was rapid and relentless. By college, cocaine had entered the picture. By the time he made it to the NBA, prescription painkillers like OxyContin and Vicodin were part of his daily routine. Eventually, heroin took over, bringing him to the brink of death more than once.
His timeline reads like a medical nightmare:
Failed drug tests at Boston College, then Fresno State.
Expelled, sent to rehab, but nothing stuck.
In 2004, found passed out in a drive-thru, arrested for heroin possession.
In 2008, after a heroin overdose, he was clinically dead for 30 seconds after crashing his car.
But it was the heartbreak on his wife’s face, holding their newborn child, that finally broke through. “Chris, I can’t tell you how many times you’ve broken my heart, but this is the last time I let you break theirs,” she said. That brutal honesty, and the intervention of a counselor, finally set Herren on the path to recovery. He’s been sober since August 1, 2008, and has turned his nightmare into hope for others: founding Hoop Dreams, writing a memoir, starring in an ESPN documentary, and helping thousands through his nonprofit and rehab center.
Lamar Odom: A Walking Miracle
Lamar Odom’s troubles started with marijuana, but soon escalated to cocaine and other drugs, fueled by personal pain and injuries.
Suspended twice for marijuana early in his career.
Arrested for DUI in 2013, after years of drug problems.
In 2015, found unconscious in a Nevada brothel after a binge—he suffered kidney failure, twelve strokes, six heart attacks, and was pronounced dead twice.
Against all odds, Odom survived. He calls himself a walking miracle, and he’s not exaggerating. His recovery was slow and public—brief basketball stints overseas, reality TV, and new business ventures. Odom’s story is a warning: addiction doesn’t care about fame or fortune.
Delonte West: The Battle Never Ends
Delonte West’s fight was against more than drugs—it was a war with his own mind. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder, West struggled to accept help.
Arrested for weapons possession, photographed homeless, panhandling, and involved in disturbing public incidents.
Viral videos showed his mental health deteriorating—confused, angry, lost.
Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, stepped in to pay for rehab and give West a job. For a time, things looked hopeful: reunited with family, working, recovering. But relapses followed, and West’s struggle continues, a reminder of how complex addiction and mental illness can be.
OJ Mayo: Talent Wasted
OJ Mayo’s career ended not with a bang, but a ban.
Early suspension for banned substances.
Permanently banned from the NBA in 2016 for drug violations—marijuana and prescription painkillers.
Played overseas, then moved into coaching, but the NBA chapter was closed for good.
Shawn Kemp: Heartbreak and Self-Medication
Shawn Kemp, the “Rainman” of Seattle, was a six-time All-Star whose addiction began after losing the 1996 NBA Finals to Michael Jordan.
Depression led to cocaine and marijuana use.
Arrested for possession after retirement, failed comeback attempts.
Now runs a legal cannabis business, a twist of fate for someone once arrested for marijuana.
Roy Tarpley: Talent Lost, Life Cut Short
Roy Tarpley’s battle with cocaine and alcohol kept him in and out of the league.
Multiple suspensions, bans, and failed rehabilitations.
Played overseas, but never reached his potential.
Died at 50 from liver failure.
Michael Ray Richardson: The First Lifetime Ban
Richardson was the first NBA player banned for life due to cocaine.
His case set the standard for the league’s anti-drug policies.
After reinstatement, he chose to play and coach in Europe, finding redemption away from the NBA spotlight.
Chris Washburn: From NBA Draft Hopeful to Homeless
Chris Washburn’s story is one of the most dramatic falls in NBA history.
Drafted third overall, but played just 72 games due to cocaine addiction.
After his ban, Washburn lived homeless in crack houses before finally turning his life around—running a business and helping others.
John Lucas II: Survivor and Savior
John Lucas II didn’t just survive addiction—he built a system to save others.
After his own struggles with cocaine and alcohol, Lucas founded athlete recovery programs and became a respected NBA coach.
His program boasts a 100% success rate among the athletes he’s helped.
Chris “Birdman” Andersen: Comeback King
Chris Andersen’s career was nearly destroyed by substance abuse.
Banned from the NBA for drugs of abuse.
After rehab, with the support of friends and weekly drug tests, he returned stronger than ever—winning a championship with the Miami Heat and becoming a fan favorite.
These stories prove that addiction can touch anyone—even the most gifted, famous, and wealthy. But they also show that with help, honesty, and courage, redemption is always possible.
