The NBA may shine through the dunks and three-pointers, but has had its share of dark moments too. From career-ending addictions to shocking suspensions, the league’s history of doping controversies has left scars that still linger. Here are five of the biggest doping controversies in NBA history.
5. Tyreke Evans
Former Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans was hit with one of the NBA’s toughest doping penalties in 2019: dismissal and disqualification for violating the anti-drug program. Under NBA rules, this kind of punishment is reserved for those who test positive for a drug of abuse or are convicted of its use or distribution. Evans was eligible to apply for reinstatement after two years, which he did in 2022, eventually finding his way back to the league.
4. Bobby Portis
Most recently in February 2025, Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis was suspended 25 games without pay after testing positive for Tramadol, a banned substance under the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program. Portis claimed he took Tramadol instead of Toradol, which he had used previously for an elbow injury. He apologized to his team, coaches, family, and fans, but the incident will mar his otherwise stellar season with the Bucks.
3. Micheal Ray Richardson
A four-time NBA All-Star with sky-high potential, Michael Ray Richardson’s story stands as a cautionary tale of talent derailed by substance abuse. In 1986, after failing multiple drug tests, the NBA banned him for life for doping. Instead of giving up, Richardson took his skills overseas and later transitioned to coaching, proving he still had a lot to offer despite his troubled past.
2. Chris Andersen
Known as “Birdman” for his wild playing style and tattooed appearance, Chris Andersen faced one of the harshest punishments in NBA history when he was banned in 2006 for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. After serving a two-year suspension, he fought his way back into the league and won a championship with the Miami Heat in 2013, crafting one of the most remarkable comeback stories in NBA history.
1. John Drew
Two-time All-Star John Drew was a scoring machine, but his on-court talent was overshadowed by his struggles with cocaine addiction. By 1983, the Utah Jazz sent him to rehab, but the problem persisted. Multiple violations of the NBA’s drug policy eventually led to a life ban in 1986. Drew’s downfall became one of the most prominent examples of the league’s cocaine crisis in the 80’s.
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