The tragic story of Len Bias makes a vivid case study for the dangers of drugs and perils of early success. One of the most promising young basketball stars of his generation, Bias was due to start his career with the Boston Celtics. However, he died before he got the chance to appear as an NBA player. Several sports commentators, including columnist Bill Simmons, believe he could have been a basketball great. Sadly, we'll never know for sure.
Life and Basketball
Len Bias gew up in Landover, Maryland. His family and friends affectionately called him "Frosty" for his cool demeanor. Throughout high school, his hard work on the basketball court marked him as a player with talent. Bias went on to receive a full scholarship to play basketball for the University of Maryland. After a successful college playing career, Bias was the No. 2 pick in the 1986 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics.
Death
Around 6 a.m. on June 19, 1986, Len Bias collapsed and died from a heart attack in his dorm at the University of Maryland. Bias was 22 years old. The previous night and for the rest of the early morning Bias had been socializing with teammates and friends from the university. Just before he collapsed, he was talking with teammate Terry Long before he lay back and appeared to go into a seizure. Medical tests found a large amount of cocaine in his system. As an otherwise healthy young male, his death was attributed to a cocaine overdose.
Playing Style
Len Bias had a powerful and athletic playing style. Writing for ESPN, columnist Bill Simmons describes the Bias basketball style as aggressive and physical with a bit of swagger. He frequently went for slam dunks and could out-jump most players. Simmons describes Bias as having "Michael Jordan's leaping ability." ESPN's Scoop Jackson also compares Bias with LeBron James, one of the top NBA stars who plays for Miami Heat, as of June 2011.
Legacy
Following the death of Len Bias, many media sources and fellow athletes questioned why and how a star athlete could fall into drug use. The University of Maryland undertook two internal reviews and made changes to the way it handled college athletes. This included the addition of random drug tests for athletes in an effort to discourage and expose further drug taking. It also included helping athletes with mentors and staff guides, as well as requiring higher overall grades from athletes. Many of these policies now apply at universities across the United States.
References
- "ESPN Page 2"; Still Haunted By Len Bias; Bill Simmons; June 20, 2001
- "Washington Post"; Maryland Basketball Star Len Bias Is Dead at 22; Keith Harriston and Sally Jenkins; June 20, 1986
- "The Daily Collegian"; MD Hate Week Bordering On Offensive; Stephen Hennessy; Dec 21, 2010
- "ESPN Page 2"; The Legend of Len Bias; Scoop Jackson
- "Washington Post"; Landover Loses "The Man"; Ed Bruske and Patrice Gaines-Carter; June 20, 1986
- "Washington Post"; 10 Years Later, Bias's Death Still Resonates; David Nakamura and Mark Asher; June 19, 1996
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