Worst moment in each NBA franchise’s history
By Brad Rowland
Boston Celtics – The Death of Len Bias
If asked to compile the worst moments in the overall history of the NBA, Len Bias’ death would rank at or near the top of the list. Bias was the second overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft, and when the Boston Celtics selected him out of the University of Maryland expectations were insanely high. He would have teamed with Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish to form a ridiculously talented frontcourt and usher the Celtics into a new era.
Bias never got to make that NBA impact, though, as he died of a cocaine overdose on June 19, 1986. The tale of that fateful night has been told many times over, but Bias and his potential tenure in the NBA remain one of the great “what if?” stories in sports history. Sadly for fans of the Celtics, Bias would soon be joined by Reggie Lewis in the category of basketball stars gone too soon, and Lewis’ death could have easily been included in this space.
Old-school fans of the Celtics will often be caught chatting about the possibility of Bias, Lewis and Bird on the court together. Meanwhile college basketball diehards remember the thunder with which Len Bias dunked the basketball, showing little regard for the opposition. The Boston Celtics have a fantastic history of success, but the early passing of Len Bias was a brutal blow to the organization, its players and its fans. May he rest in peace.
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