The tragic death of Len Bias, the college basketball superstar from the University of Maryland, not only impacted the world of pro and amateur basketball in the United States and beyond, it brought about wide-ranging consequences for the American justice system. In various fields, Bias’s impact is still felt today, eventhough he never set foot on an NBA hardwood floor.
His sudden demise as a result of a cocaine overdose have left his family, his friends, and his fans wondering … what if!? What if he had taken the floor with Larry Bird and Kevin McHale to extend the dominance of the Boston Celtics’ dynasty into the next decade. What if he had become the rival that Michael Jordan never truly had in his formative NBA years. Thirty-five years after Bias’ unfortunate passing, a new podcast series explores these questions in detail.
Alongside that name, there were always the broad outlines of a story. A phenom at Maryland who was drafted second overall in 1986 by the Boston Celtics, and who died, almost immediately thereafter, from using cocaine. But I always wanted to know more. About the world Bias inhabited and the one he left behind.
Jordan Ritter Conn, author “What If?”
Learn more about The Ringer‘s new narrative podcast series or click the button below to start listening to the first episode of “What If? The Len Bias Story” on the Ringer Podcast Network’s “The Book of Basketball 2.0” feed on Spotify!
