The Top 10 Pro Baller Careers Ruined By Drugs & Alcohol

For the last couple of weeks, Lamar Odom’s reputation has been in question for numerous reasons. Since being traded from the Los Angeles Lakers, Odom has been a wash on the court. Also allegations of infidelity with different women started to populate throughout different news publications. But it’s the allegations of smoking on that crack rock that have been most damning.

Accordingly, this is not the type of story that we have yet to hear of or will not hear about again with regards to professional athletes and substance abuse problems. Throughout the years several ballers have have fallen prey to the pipe, pills, alcohol and more.

Here is a list of 10 pro ballers with the biggest falls from grace due to drugs, alcohol or both.

NFL Football great Lawrence Taylor started using cocaine as early as his rookie year. While his career was illustrious, his reputation has never been the same with multiple arrests; most recently being caught with an under-aged prostitute in 2010.

Len Bias was drafted second overall by the Boston Celtics in the 1986 NBA draft. Two days later he passed away from cardiac arrhythmia which was induced by a cocaine overdose. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest to not play in the league

Former NFL running back Ricky Williams had a very public passion for marijuana. His love for weed landed him to an early retirement and suspensions which severely hampered his career from seeing its full potential realized.

Darryl Strawberry was one of Major League Baseball’s most feared sluggers. The four time MLB champion has fought a long battle with drug abuse stemming from the 80’s. He has since removed himself from his player past and is now a preacher with his own ministry.

Isaiah “J.R.” Rider is another baller who is synonymous with his off the court dealings to the point where Jay Z name checked him in a freestyle “Matter fact you Harold Miner, J.R. Rider, Washed up on marijuana”.

Former Major League Baseball pitcher Dwight Gooden saw his career hampered by multiple arrests ranging for cocaine possession to driving while intoxicated.

If there was ever such a thing as a struggle baller then Vin Baker probably fit the bill. He reportedly drank heavily post games and allegedly showed up to practice with alcohol on his breath. He soon gained a ton of weight which ultimately led to him losing much of his skill set.

Sam Hurd was an undrafted NFL prospect who eventually landed with the Chicago Bears. In 2011 he was arrested while trying to purchase large amounts of cocaine and marijuana. Months later he failed two drug tests stemming from his probation bond. He is facing a minimum 10-year sentence.

Iron Mike Tyson’s story is filled with plenty of up but there are downs which include him recently admitting that drugs and alcohol have him on the verge of dying.

At the time of the Dallas Cowboys championship reign in the mid 90’s, all star wide receiver Michael Irvin was arrested on cocaine possession. Even though he has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, his reputation will always be tarnished by subsequent drug possession charges.