The bright lights of the NBA arena often blind us to the shadows lurking just beyond the court. We see the buzzer-beaters, the multimillion-dollar contracts, and the superhuman athleticism, but we rarely see the private battles that can bring it all crashing down. Throughout league history, from the cocaine-fueled crisis of the 1980s to the complex world of modern performance enhancers and painkillers in 2025, drugs have derailed careers, tarnished legacies, and, in tragic cases, claimed lives.
While the league has evolved its policies to focus more on rehabilitation, the consequences of a violation remain severe. Whether it is a heartbreaking “honest mistake” or a descent into hard addiction, these ten stories serve as a stark reminder that even the world’s elite athletes are not immune to the perils of substance abuse.
The High Cost of “Honest Mistakes”
In the high-stakes world of professional basketball, a simple error can cost a fortune. The most recent example rocked the Milwaukee Bucks in early 2025 when fan-favorite Bobby Portis was hit with a 25-game suspension. Portis, a key piece of the Bucks’ 2021 championship run, tested positive for Tramadol, a banned opioid.
The tragedy of Portis’s case lies in the details. According to his agent, the forward accidentally ingested the drug, mistaking it for Toradol, a league-approved anti-inflammatory he used for an elbow injury. This mix-up cost him an estimated $1.2 million in salary and sidelined him during a crucial playoff push. Although he returned in March 2025 to advocate for better education on medication, the incident highlighted the razor-thin margin for error players face regarding what they put in their bodies.
Similarly, veteran Tristan Thompson faced the music in January 2024. The former champion tested positive for Ibutamoren and Ligandrol—substances linked to muscle growth and recovery. While Thompson blamed contaminated supplements and apologized emotionally to his teammates, the suspension stained his reputation and cost him roughly $750,000. It was a harsh lesson for aging veterans: the quest to extend a career can sometimes end it.
The Tragedy of the 80s: The Lifetime Bans
While modern suspensions often allow for a return, the 1980s were a different beast. The drug culture of the era was rampant, and the NBA’s response was a draconian “three strikes and you’re out” policy.
No story exemplifies this era more than that of Michael Ray Richardson. A four-time All-Star with the Knicks and Nets, Richardson was arguably one of the best guards of his generation. But his battle with cocaine was a public spectacle. In February 1986, after failing his third drug test, he became the first active player in history to receive a lifetime ban. Richardson later admitted the addiction made him feel invincible before leaving him in financial ruin. Tragically, after a life of ups and downs—including a redemption arc playing in Europe—Richardson passed away in November 2025, leaving behind a legacy that is equal parts brilliance and caution.
He was not alone. John Drew, a prolific scorer for the Hawks, courageously went public with his addiction in 1983, hoping to spark change. Instead, he spiraled further, spending up to $1,000 a day on cocaine at his peak. He joined Richardson in receiving a lifetime ban in January 1986. Drew’s post-NBA life was a struggle for sobriety until his death from bone cancer in 2022.
Perhaps the most disturbing tale is that of Chris Washburn. Drafted third overall in 1986, Washburn’s addiction was so severe that allegations surfaced of him snorting cocaine during halftime of his college games at NC State. By 1989, after just 72 NBA games and three failed tests, he was banned for life. Washburn eventually found himself homeless, wandering the streets before finally achieving sobriety years later—a stark portrait of how far a star can fall.
Unfulfilled Potential: When Talent Isn’t Enough
Sometimes, the addiction starts long before the fame. Richard Dumas, a rookie sensation for the Phoenix Suns in the early 90s, began using crack cocaine at age 15. Despite helping the Suns reach the 1993 Finals, his demons were always one step behind him. He was permanently banned in 1995, his career over at just 27.
Roy Tarpley, the 1988 Sixth Man of the Year, followed a similar heartbreaking path. A dominant force for the Mavericks, Tarpley was banned for three years in 1991 for cocaine and permanently expelled in 1995 for alcohol violations. He spent years suing the league, claiming discrimination, but never regained his NBA footing. He died in 2015 from liver failure, a direct consequence of the addiction that consumed his prime years.
The Painkiller Epidemic and Modern Redemption
In the 21st century, the narrative began to shift from recreational partying to self-medication and, eventually, redemption.
O.J. Mayo, once a top prospect, saw his NBA career disintegrate due to “drugs of abuse,” specifically painkillers like oxycodone. Mayo revealed that his addiction began as a legitimate way to manage injury pain but spiraled out of control. Banned for two years in 2016, he has since found sobriety and continues to play overseas, though he never returned to the NBA heights he was promised.
Tyreke Evans, the 2010 Rookie of the Year, faced a similar two-year ban in 2019. Like Mayo, his suspension involved drugs of abuse, halting a resurgence in his career. Reinstated in 2022, Evans has since focused on coaching and mental health advocacy, proving that life exists after the league.
However, the ultimate story of hope belongs to Chris “Birdman” Andersen. Banned in 2006 for two years due to hard drug use, Andersen didn’t just fade away. He went to rehab, got clean, and worked his way back into the league. His redemption culminated in 2013 when he raised the championship trophy with the Miami Heat. Andersen proved that a ban doesn’t have to be a death sentence for a career—it can be a wake-up call.
A Sobering Reality
From the tragic halftime highs of Chris Washburn to the accidental mix-ups of Bobby Portis, the history of drugs in the NBA is a complex tapestry of human frailty. These stories remind us that the athletes we idolize face pressures and demons that money cannot silence. As the league continues to navigate the challenges of the modern era, the legacy of those lost to the “lifetime ban” serves as a permanent warning: talent gets you to the league, but discipline keeps you there.
