Len Bias

About Len Bias

Leonard Kevin Bias (November 18, 1963 – June 19, 1986) was an American college basketball player who suffered a fatal cardiac arrhythmia that resulted from a cocaine overdose less than 48 hours after being selected by the Boston Celtics in the 1986 NBA Draft. Bias was the second player selected in the draft, after Brad Daugherty of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

From Landover, Maryland, Bias attended Northwestern High School in Hyattsville, Maryland, and subsequently the University of Maryland where he became a star player and an All-American. Wearing number 34, he impressed basketball fans with his amazing leaping ability, his physical stature and his ability to create plays. During his college career Bias was considered one of the most dynamic players in the nation. In fact, Bias was rated by some draft publications as the most complete forward ever to come out of college.[citation needed] Bias was compared by some with Michael Jordan, even though Jordan himself was only in his second professional season at the time Bias was drafted.

Bias died in a dormitory on the University of Maryland, College Park campus. Later, his death would be featured as part of an anti-drug media campaign. A district court and court of appeals found that Bias had been an intravenous drug user.